The teaching profession is both incredibly challenging and rewarding. In addition to instructing children in all the basic subjects of reading, writing, arithmetic, science, social studies, and physical education, elementary teachers are also responsible for tracking students' progress through tests and grade reports, providing guidance and discipline, and working well with staff members and parents.
Bethany's elementary education major prepares students to teach in a variety of settings with the belief that future teachers educated from a Christ-centered perspective will be better prepared to meet the needs of children in a multi-cultural society whether in public, private, or Lutheran schools.
Bethany's elementary education major offers Minnesota state-approved teaching licensure for K-8 with middle school endorsements in communication arts and literature, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students desiring to teach in Lutheran elementary schools take additional coursework for certification by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Clinicals
The education department feels it is very important that college students preparing to be teachers should have as many opportunities as possible to gain experience in the classroom. Therefore as a future teacher, you will participate in extensive classroom clinicals:
- 16 hours of early field experience in a classroom working under the direction of an experienced teacher.
- 25 hours in the classroom at the middle or junior high school assisting an experienced teacher.
- Approximately 18 weeks of clinicals during which you will plan and teach lessons in specific subject areas (language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, health, physical education, music and art) on consecutive days to children in the elementary school.
- A three-week clinical during which you will teach children with special needs under the direction and supervision of a special education teacher.
- The final classroom experience is the semester-long teaching internship during which you will complete the full-time student teaching requirement. Student teaching may be done in either a public or private school. Recently, students have done their teaching internships in Mankato and the surrounding communities of Nicollet, Janesville, Mapleton, Jordan, Glenville, Good Thunder, Faribault, St. Peter, Albert Lea, and Waterville.
Secondary Education Teaching Licensure
Bethany's secondary education teacher preparation program offers Minnesota stateapproved teaching licensure in:
- English (5-12)
- Social Studies (5-12)
- Visual Arts (K-12)
Students major and take required licensure courses in studio art, broad field social studies, or English AND fulfill specified Education major requirements, including all entry into the education major requirements.
