EL 311 Literacy and Literature
Development of an understanding of the role and use of children’s literature in the curriculum, as well as strategies to motivate children to read and develop their skills in reading and writing. The emphasis in this course is reader response to quality children’s literature, writing, and assessment. 3 credits

EL 325 Elementary Education Field Placement
Opportunity for students to observe children in elementary schools and apply theory learned in the various method courses. Variable credit

EL 401 Elementary Curriculum
Analysis of the philosophies and objectives of the elementary school curriculum, classroom organization, materials, instructional strategies, research, and discipline techniques. Field placement required. 3 credits

EL 402 Elementary Practicum
The learning from the various elementary methods courses is applied in an elementary classroom. It provides an opportunity to plan and teach age-appropriate lessons to students in an elementary classroom on a weekly basis in a supervised setting. The weekly on-site seminar allows for an integration of classroom practice and theoretical teaching principles. Prerequisites: ED 312 and ED 322. 4 credits

EL 404/406 Primary/Intermediate Student Teaching and Seminar
EL 504/507
Student teaching experience at a primary and intermediate grade level for a period of eight weeks each. The student is under the direct supervision of the mentor-teacher and the University mentor. Students have the opportunity to teach all subject areas and assume the full teaching load for the last week of each experience. Teaching competencies will be evaluated by the University mentor. Student teachers return to the campus one afternoon every two weeks for a seminar with the university mentor. This seminar focuses on the exchange of classroom experience of each student with other students and the University mentor. The students are provided with materials and methods to enhance their student teaching. In addition, the seminar focuses on current school issues, school law, certifi cation requirements and writing, as well as on the completion of portfolios, applications, and resumes, and interview techniques. Note: No other courses may be taken while a student is registered for EL 404 and EL 406 without special permission of the Director of Elementary Education. Prerequisite: Completion of all Elementary Education requirements and minimum cumulative grade average of 3.0. 6 credits each

EL 423 Social Studies Methods
A focus on a critical understanding of the history, geography, economic, political, and social institutions, traditions, and values of the United States and other select cultures as expressed in their unity and diversity. It enables learners to develop a repertoire of approaches and strategies for teaching social studies in the elementary classroom. Prerequisites: ED 258. ED 259, PY 205. 3 credits