During the admissions process, you should have registered with the Family Care Safety Registry. This is required before you participate in any practicum with any school or agency. If this has not been done yet, please contact Jane Bethel, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Education at 660-248-6393 or jbethel@centralmethodist.edu. If you are not registered by the first week of classes, you may be withdrawn from the course. Remember, if your name changes, you must call (866) 422-6872 (a toll free number) and change it with FCSR. There is no fee for changing your name.

For early childhood classrooms, a TB test is required. This should have been done with your admission to the early childhood education program.  If this has not been done yet, please contact Jane Bethel, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Education at 660-248-6393 or jbethel@centralmethodist.edu. If this is not done by the end of the first week of classes, you may be withdrawn from the course.

Students must contact an elementary public school for permission to complete 20 practicum hours in an elementary classroom in the content areas of social studies and science.  Please see Practicum handouts in Resources and Materials and the syllabus for specific information before making contact with a public school district.

1. Explore interactions that occur within a classroom setting. *(CMU 2a, 2d, 6c, 7a) (MoSPE 1C3, 2C1, 3C2)
2. Design learning experiences in an inclusive environment  (CMU 1c, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 3c, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) (ECEC 1.3, 2.3, 6.6)  (MoSPE 1C2, 1C3, 1C4, 1C5, 2C1, 2C4, 2C5, 3C1, 4C1, 4C2, 4C3, 5C1, 5C2, 5C3, 7C2, 7C4 )
3. Experience the importance of building community with the classroom environment (CMU 2a, 7a) (ECEC 2.3, 6.7, 6.9) (MoSPE 1C3, 4C1, 5C1, 5C2, 5C3, 9C3)
4. Document the learning process (CMU 3a, 3b, 3c) (ECEC 4.1) (MoSPE 7C1, 7C2, 7C3, 7C4, 7C6)
5. Implement methods for integrating the communication and expressive arts across the curriculum utilizing the Common Core and Science and Social Studies Grade Level Expectations. (CMU 2b, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) (ECEC 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.4, 6.9) (MoSPE 1C1, 1C2, 1C4, 1C5, 3C1, 3C2, 4C2)
6. Experience classroom management strategies for individual, small and large group settings (CMU 2b, 2d) (ECEC 6.6) (MoSPE 1C2, 4C1, 4C3, 5C1, 5C2, 5C3, 7C4)
7. Engage in and develop critical thinking strategies (CMU 2a, 2b) (ECEC 6.4) (MoSPE 1C3, 4C1)
8. Utilize instructional technology (CMU 8a, 8b, 8c) (ECEC 6.5) (MoSPE 4C2, 6C4)
9. Experience inquiry, choice and decision making while conducting research as part of the construction of knowledge (CMU 2a, 2.b, 2.c) (ECEC 6.3, 6.4) (MoSPE 1C3, 2C6, 4C1, 4C3, 5C1, 5C2, 5C3, 9C3)
10. Examine Science & Social Studies Grade Level Expectations, Early Childhood Standards and Project Construct Goals to identify appropriate resource materials and plan lessons. (CMU 5a) (ECEC 1.4, 2.3, 5.6, 5.7, 6.1, 6.8, 6.9)  (MoSPE 1C4, 3C1)
11. Read, discuss and apply theory and research from professional literature to teaching practice. (CMU 1b) (ECEC 7.6) (MoSPE 1C3, 2C1, 4C2)

*CMU – Alignment with CMU Conceptual Framework and Professional Education Division Standards and Indicators

ECEC – Alignment with DESE Early Childhood Education Competencies

DESE Teacher Standards – Alignment with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Teacher Standards

Upon successful completion of the course, each participant should be able to:

• have an understanding of pedagogy, knowing how to teach and applying methodologies and strategies in their classrooms to obtain optimum learning experiences for their students.
• have a solid basis of knowledge about theories of learning and being able to assess the learning theories best suited to the needs of students.
• have a thorough knowledge and skill to prepare lessons and implement them based upon inquiry, exploration, investigation and research.
• have learned best practices in making social studies and science more relevant to the students and relating the experience to their life and how they as a person fits into the scheme of life and their environment.
• be aware of how to create a rich culture and/or environment that promotes learning, inquiry, curiosity, interest and enthusiasm and mutual respect.