BECOMING A TEACHER LEADER:

Taking Responsibility for Student Learning

Are there more opportunities to gain classroom experience besides student teaching?

Do Education majors conduct research?

Are there more opportunities to gain classroom experience besides student teaching?

Yes! Missouri Western’s teacher education program was one of the first in the nation to require its students to have experiences in elementary and secondary schools early in the program, rather than waiting until students are almost ready to graduate. This gives you plenty of opportunity to decide if a teaching career is right for you.

As an Education major, you will move through four phases of involvement in area preschools, elementary and high schools. Phase one normally begins sophomore year, where candidates observe and serve as teacher assistants in host schools. They also tutor young students for six hours. During phase two, candidates visit several classrooms and focus on learning teaching methods. In phase three, candidates participate in two classes and one field experience where they write a curriculum unit and teach it. All those experiences lead up to phase four, the traditional 12-week student teaching at the end of their college career.

The program is a perfect blend of theory and practical experience. Students and faculty discuss education theory in their university courses, and students immediately have the opportunity to take that theory and apply it in the area preschools, elementary and high schools. In turn, students bring their school experiences back to the university classrooms for discussion and understanding.

Do Education majors conduct research?