About

Elementary and Kindergarten Education

A common conceptual framework and the Elementary Education Performance Framework emphasizing that Penn State educators are lifelong learners guide the design of the Penn State elementary teacher education program. At Penn State, life-long learning means that teachers are active inquirers. Active inquirers use insights from intentional and systematic inquiry to make informed instructional decisions. In order to become teachers who take an inquiry stance to their work, candidates in the Penn State program engage in active, ongoing inquiry throughout coursework and field experience. Candidates, and often their cooperating teachers, learn to pose and search for answers to important and intriguing questions related to the process of learning and teaching, the ways in which students learn and develop, and, how families and schools are socially, historically, and culturally situated.

A visible part of the framework is the expectation that all Penn State candidates are well prepared in the subject-matter they will be expected to teach. Coupled with professional education courses, including early and sequential supervised practica, the program design provides candidates with ample opportunities to develop general and subject-specific pedagogical knowledge in order to be an effective teacher with all learners.

Candidates seeking certification as a K-6 elementary teacher take a comprehensive collection of subject matter and professional education courses designed to best prepare Penn State educators to foster high levels of student achievement of the Pennsylvania Academic Standards. Subject matter coursework has been defined by both the Pennsylvania Program Specific Guidelines and the standards put forth by the Association for Childhood Education International.