Western Washington University

Comments on analysis

Courses reviewed: ELED 480, ELED 481, and ELED 492

The research-based content proven to be necessary for teaching all children to read should be clearly evident in course materials such as lecture topics, assignments and textbooks. All of a program's required reading courses — not just some courses — should impart what is necessary to teach reading.

The program meets only a small part of the standard because its coursework covers two of the five of the components of effective reading instruction:

• Phonemic Awareness
• Comprehension Strategies

• Phonics
• Fluency
• Vocabulary

Comments on analysis

Students cannot excel in mathematics without skillful instruction in the earliest years of school. Teacher candidates generally require three semesters of coursework, complemented by adequate field practice, to progress from a procedural to a conceptual understanding of the essential mathematics topics taught in the elementary grades.

Courses reviewed: MATH 381, MATH 382, MATH 383, and MATH 491

Through a review of the coursework above, the program was found to provide teacher candidates with at least four SCHs of coursework focused on developing a conceptual understanding of mathematical topics; however, the coverage of numbers & operations, algebra, geometry, and data analysis & probability was determined to be inadequate.

Next Steps
To improve under this standard, additional attention should be paid to the coverage of content and selection of textbooks used to support instruction.

Comments on analysis

Because they teach all subjects, elementary teacher candidates need to have a solid grasp of literature and composition, American and world history, geography and science. Teacher candidates should also develop some expertise outside of their professional studies, not only to enrich their own academic experience, but also to serve as a fallback major in the event that the student teaching experience is unsuccessful.

Requirements established by the program and/or the institution in which it is located ensure that all elementary certification candidates must take relevant classes in the checked topics below.