   Elementary EducationBachelor of Arts Degree
The major in Elementary Education prepares students to become professional teachers for both public and private schools from kindergarten through the 8 th grade. Aspiring teachers study the liberal arts, Bible and theology, educational foundations, psychology, assessment, learning theory and pedagogy, and instructional methods for the varied subjects required for elementary teaching: reading, mathematics, visual arts, drama, language arts, science, health and fitness, social studies, and music. During two semesters, students demonstrate their teaching skills in public or private school classrooms, leading to formal certification by the State of Washington. Teaching Certificate Endorsements and Academic Subject AreaElementary education majors earn the endorsement for kindergarten through 8 th grade and a middle level endorsement in Humanities, Mathematics, or Science. They may teach any self-contained classroom within that grade span or their subject specialty within 4 th through 9 th grades. Professional Standards and Performance AssessmentWithin the context of educational restructuring and accountability for learning results, the performance of each candidate is evaluated in multiple ways over time. Assessment of candidate performance focuses on demonstrated competency in both knowledge and teaching skill, which employs varied strategies to measure professional knowledge, subject matter mastery, and teaching effectiveness. Measures include written examination, oral communication, classroom management, curricular and instructional design, practice teaching, projects and portfolios, written expression, visual and musical arts, and the success of children in field settings.
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