Elementary and Middle Level Education
The Pennsylvania State certification requirements have recently been changed to redefine the former Elementary Education certification (grades K-6) as Elementary & Middle Level Education certification, now grades 4 - 8 (ages 9 - 13).
This degree will prepare you to be certified to teach in grades 4 - 8. You will select a content specialty area such as Language Arts/English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, or a combination of two of the areas. A strong foundation of teaching methodology is combined with many diverse classroom experiences beginning your freshman year for practical, hands-on learning in a variety of socio-economic and racial/ethnic settings and including special needs students.
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Accreditations
Pennsylvania Department
of Education (PDE)
National Council
for the Accreditation of
Teacher Education (NCATE)
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In your senior year, you will take a block of courses and experiences devoted entirely to the methods of teaching and classroom management. The student teaching semester will place you in two different classrooms for seven weeks each where you will be responsible for teaching the class under the supervision of an experienced teacher. Your assignments will usually be within a 50-60 mile radius of the LHU campus. You may also choose to student teach abroad at one of our partner universities in such countries as Australia, Ireland, England, Spain and Croatia.
The current retirements of “baby boom” generation teachers is creating a high demand for teachers at all levels. Many of our graduates have secured immediate employment upon graduation in schools throughout Pennsylvania and across the country.
Special Education Certification Program
Certification in special education prepares you to teach persons with mental and physical disabilities. This includes individuals diagnosed with learning disabilities, mental retardation, physical disabilities, brain injuries, and emotional or behavior disorders.
Any Early Childhood, Middle Level, or Secondary Education major can choose to take courses leading to special education certification. The dual certification program follows a planned sequence of courses that has been designed to meet the Pennsylvania State guidelines for certification in both areas. Special education certification parallels the chosen content certification: preschool through grade 6, or grade 7 through grade 12.
Dual Certification
You will increase your marketability for future employment by completing coursework and field experiences for a dual degree. This will provide you excellent preparation for inclusionary classrooms, as well as for part-time and full-time special education settings. You will have practical classroom experiences from your freshman year through your senior year student teaching placements. During your 15 week student teaching experience, you will have the opportunity to teach both typical and special needs students, supervised by certified instructors in the content area as well as in special education. LHU graduates in special education have an excellent history of securing teaching positions immediately upon graduation throughout the state of Pennsylvania and nationally.
Minor - Special Education
This minor is designed for education majors who want to gain additional knowledge and skills in teaching children with disabilities, but do not desire certification in Special Education. It can also be valuable to other human service majors such as Social Work, Recreation, and Psychology.
Facilities
All classrooms have SMaRTBoard technology which integrates sources such as PowerPoint, video and the Internet into the classroom learning experience. There is also a MacIntosh computer lab for use by education students. You will also learn to use a variety of instructional media.
Senior Portfolio
To enhance your marketability for employment after graduation or for acceptance into graduate school, you will develop a digital developing portfolio at the end of your junior year and a professional portfolio during your senior year which describes your field experiences and teaching accomplishments and credentials. This not only demonstrates your academic abilities and experiences, but also highlights your expertise in using instructional technology.
Elementary and Middle Level Education Faculty
All elementary & middle level faculty were previously elementary or middle
school teachers. They are very involved, spending time in the schools with our students on a regular basis. They are dedicated to teaching and the small class sizes allow for a high degree of individual attention which will help you succeed.
Mr. Terry L. Brink,
Chairperson, Department of Elementary Education
(570) 484-2364
tbrink@lhup.edu
M.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Associate Professor of Education and Instructional Technology
Dr. Priya Poehner
Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University
Assistant Professor of Elementary Language Arts Education
Mrs. Kathy M. Richards
M.Ed., Wilkes University
Assistant Professor of Elementary Education
Dr. Cathy T. Rush
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
Professor of Elementary Education
Dr. Steven J. Rush
D.Ed., Seton Hall University
Assistant Professor of Elementary Science Education.
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