This specialty provides an appropriate second career avenue for individuals who are aspiring to teach after having had a first career or who have not been able to complete a teacher education program as part of an undergraduate program. A specific program audit form outlines the required and elective courses within the Four Pillar Framework, allowing for the certification and then the final degree work within the Professional Development Plan (PDP) process.
Certification includes grades K4-9. Teacher licensing at WLC follows the Wisconsin State DPI approved program guidelines as described in the Teacher Education Handbook where additional standardized tests and program requirements are identified.
The curriculum focuses the learner on research into best practice for academic achievement of diverse learners, teacher preparation and experience, practical instructional models, and data-driven decision-making within the context of a Christian world view. Technological applications are integrated throughout the program and specifically, in the required clinical and practicum experiences.
Special Requirements
Graduate students must come to campus for many of the methods courses in face-to-face formats and also have the ability to schedule clinical hours for observation and teaching in a K-12 classroom during the school year. Each methods course has specified hours and expectations assigned. At completion, clinical experiences must represent the range of the licensure program. The practicum in this specialty entails a full K-12 semester in a teacher candidacy position approved by the Director of Teacher Education and the Dean.
EDU 690 Practicum requirements:
To enroll in this full semester-full day practicum, students must have:
- Completed all course and requirements;
- Met GPA requirements of 3.0 in the major/minor;
- Passed all DPI and program assessments by April 15 for fall teacher candidacy and October 15 for spring teacher candidacy;
- Established an ePortfolio for completion during this teacher candidacy semester;
- Completed the application for teacher candidacy which is submitted to the Academic Advisor for distribution to the Director of Teacher Education and the Program Director; and
- Attend an orientation to teacher candidacy prior to the official commencement of the placement.
Additional requirements and expectations are described in the Teacher Education Handbook. The Teacher Candidacy Weekly Seminar has required attendance/participation and is graded as a part of this practicum.
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