Education

In Depth

Our program gives you real world experience from Day 1.

• You will have opportunities to visit classrooms in local schools to observe and learn from master teachers, and to teach alongside them.
• You will prepare instructional materials, teach small and large group lessons and network with teachers.
• You will work in school and community placements beginning in your first education class including local elementary and secondary schools, at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, COTS (Committee for Temporary Shelter), Winooski Community Center Refugee Resettlement Programs, or Burlington Boys and Girls Club, among many other places.
• Our education program will help you develop the values and skills to teach all learners. You will become confident in meeting the diverse learning needs reflected in today’s classrooms.
• We model the same active methods and participatory techniques you will need to use in the field. We show you how to teach using the latest software, apps, manipulatives, and more to create both remote and in-person curriculum and lesson plans.

To complement the practical experiences, Education majors can expect to tap into and expand their creativity as well. Faculty incorporate a variety of approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment into Education courses as a way to model best educational practices. For example, in Social Studies and the Arts, students use drama, music, and movement to inform their understanding of history, culture and the arts as knowledge themselves.

You will have multiple opportunities to teach students with a variety of characteristics including students new to the United States and students who are differently abled. Your experiences in the schools will increase in both time and responsibilities until you are student teaching full-time for one semester.

Education Department Mission Statement and Learning Outcomes

Teacher Preparation Program Report

State of Vermont report (including SMC approved programs) may be found at: https://education.vermont.gov/documents/programs-approved-for-preparation-of-educators

For a copy of the report, please contact Licensure Coordinator, Amy Saks Pavese at: asakspavese@smcvt.edu

Student Teaching

Student teaching provides elementary, middle, and secondary education students who are earning an education major/license the opportunity to design, implement, and evaluate instruction under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher.  This internship is the equivalent of three full courses.

Along with working in the schools, student teachers take the Student Teaching Seminar. The class examines issues raised through the student teaching experience, supports the construction of the professional portfolio required for Vermont teacher licensure, and bridges the transition from student teacher to professional practitioner. As a community of learners we address the themes of creativity, curiosity, contemplation, collaboration, reflection, and social justice through topics such as student diversity, classroom management and culture, standards-based lesson and unit planning, instructional strategies, and assessment.  We develop skills together to successfully enter the teaching profession and create a professional development trajectory.

Special Opportunities

Children’s Books

There are over 10,000 different titles in the Children and Young Adult section of the Durick Library to assist you with curriculum planning.

Teaching Materials and Technology

You will have easy access to a rich variety of instructional resources to practice teaching in any subject area, including math manipulatives, leveled texts for teaching reading, computer hardware (including the Smartboard and iPad), software for designing lessons, Tegrity lecture capture, adaptive technology (Ablenet switches, audio output devices), and electronic portfolios.

Mentoring Children

Woven into your teacher education courses, you will have opportunities to work with school aged children in classrooms, as well as in various community venues. Our Education classes provide direct services to children and youth at:

• Boys and Girls Club of Burlington
• Committee on Temporary Shelter
• Lund Family Home
• ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
• local schools, libraries, and museums

In addition, many Education majors provide additional community service through participation in various MOVE programs working with children and youth.

Study Abroad

During your semester abroad you may study educational practices in other countries. Many of our students find opportunities to work with children in other countries and learn about the local educational systems during their semester abroad. Recently, students have found placements in Italy, England, Australia, Ghana, Ecuador and many other countries around the world.

We particularly encourage our students to extend their teaching and cultural experiences by spending the Fall or Spring semester of their junior year in the ASE program in Bath, England. One day a week you will be in a classroom that corresponds to your selected age group and subject interests. Complementing the practicum, you will actively engage in a seminar on the British educational system further preparing you for this in-school experience. By the end of the semester you will have a portfolio and evaluation from your in-school experience. You will also select from tempting liberal arts courses in literature, history, politics and art to complete your 16 credit program. Many of the seminars are taught by faculty from Oxford University and include field trips. The academic program includes residencies in Stratford and Oxford. During break you will have ample opportunity to travel and take advantage of the many cultural sites throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.

Possible 9th Semester

Though many students finish in four years, students may choose to student teach during a ninth semester. Students who have completed ALL requirements except for student teaching and have passed Praxis I and Praxis II have the option to complete their student teaching during a ninth semester. The student may attend the commencement exercises at the end of their eighth semester, but will be recommended for licensure only after successful completion of student teaching.

For information, please contact:  Peggy Imai, Director of Study Abroad, x2222, pimai@smcvt.edu.

Go Baby Go 

Go Baby Go is a team of students, faculty members, and community volunteers who collaborate to modify power wheel cars to enhance independent mobility of children eighteen months to two years. It is our mission that the cars empower the driver so that they are able to explore their world, their way.

For information, please contact: Mary Beth Doyle, Professor of Education at 802.654.2279 or by email at mdoyle@smcvt.edu.

Careers

After graduation, our majors go on to careers like:

• Elementary School Teacher
• Middle School Teacher
• High School Teacher
• Art Teacher
• ESL Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• Curriculum Specialist
• Curriculum Designer
• Principal
• Boys and Girls Club Program Director
• Journalist
• Museum Educator
• Social Worker

Many of our graduates go on to pursue a Master’s in Education here at Saint Michael’s.  Others have pursued advanced degrees at institutions like:

• Boston College
• Columbia University
• Tufts University
• University of Massachusetts