Elementary Education University of West Georgia

Overview

Candidates who successfully complete University of West Georgia's Elementary Education program will earn a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Satisfactory completion of this program results in a concentration in mathematics and reading and leads to a clear and renewable teaching certificate (T-4) in Georgia.

As a student in our degree program, you'll learn strategies to help all students succeed by focusing on subjects such as:

•    Knowledge and understanding of the classroom learner•    Methodologies of content area instruction•    Research in Elementary Education •    Curriculum theory and development

•    Infusion of technology in instructional practices

Key facts

• 1.0 Development, Learning and Motivation: Candidates know, understand, and use the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to development of children and young adolescents to construct learning opportunities that support individual students' development, acquisition of knowledge, and motivation (ACEI 1)

• 2.1 Reading, Writing, and Oral Language: Candidates demonstrate a high level of competence in use of English language arts and they know, understand, and use concepts from reading, language, and child development, to teach reading, writing, speaking, viewing, listening, and thinking skills and to help students successfully apply their developing skills to many different situation, materials, and ideas.

  2.2 Science: Candidates know, understand, and use fundamental concepts of physical, life, and earth/space sciences. Candidates can design and implement age-appropriate inquiry lessons to teach science, to build student understanding for persona; and social applications, and to convey the nature of science.

  2.3 Mathematics: Candidates know, understand, and use the major concepts and procedures that define number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability. In doing so they consistently engage problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, and representation.

  2.4 Social Studies: Candidates know, understand, and use the major concepts and modes of inquiry from the social studies, the integrated study of history, geography, the social sciences, and other related areas to promote elementary students' abilities to make informed decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse democratic society and interdependent world.

  2.5 The Arts: Candidates know, understand, and use-as appropriate to their own understanding and skills-the content, functions, and achievements of dance, music, theater, and the several visual arts as primary media for communication, inquiry, and insight among elementary students.

  2.6 Health Education: Candidates know, understand, and use the major concepts in the subject matter of health education to create opportunities for student development and practice of skills that contribute to good health.

  2.7 Physical Education: Candidates know, understand, and use-as appropriate to their own understanding and skills-human movement and physical activity as

• 3.1 Integrating and applying knowledge for instruction: Candidates plan and implement instruction based on knowledge of students, learning theory, subject matter, curricular goals, and community.

  3.2 Adaptation to diverse students: Candidates understand how elementary students differ in their development and approaches to learning, and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse students.

  3.3 Development of critical thinking, problem solving, performance skills: Candidates understand and use a variety of teaching strategies that encourage elementary students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and problem solving.

  3.4 Active engagement in learning: Candidates use their knowledge and understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior among students at the K-6 level to foster active engagement in learning, self motivation, and positive social interaction and to create supportive learning environments.

  3.5 Communication to foster collaboration: Candidates use their knowledge and understanding of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the elementary classroom (ACEI 3).

• 4.0 Assessment for instruction: Candidates know, understand, and use formal and informal assessment strategies to plan, evaluate and strengthen instruction that will promote continuous intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of each elementary student (ACEI 4).

• 5.1 Professional growth, reflection, and evaluation: Candidates are aware of and reflect on their practice in light of research on teaching and resources available for professional learning; they continually evaluate the effects of their professional decisions and actions on students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community and actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally.

  5.2 Collaboration with families, colleagues, and community agencies: Candidates know the importance of establishing and maintaining a positive collaborative relationship with families, school colleagues, and agencies in the larger community to promote the intellectual, social, emotional, physical growth, and well-being of children.

  5.4 Collaboration with colleagues and the community: Candidates foster relationships with school colleagues and agencies in the larger community to support students' learning and well-being (ACEI 5).