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Elementary Education
The Brown University/Wheeler School M.A.T. program in Elementary Education is a 12-month Masters degree program leading to Rhode Island Teacher Certification in grades 1-6. The program is practice-based, requiring three clinical experiences that take place in a variety of settings: Urban, suburban, charter and independent schools.
The small size of the M.A.T. program allows for frequent clinical supervision by program faculty, interactive seminars that engage students in methods, materials and workshops relating to all of the elementary subject areas, and a strong cohort experience that supports collaborative and reflective practices applied to excellent teaching and learning for all of our nation’s children.
The program offers experiences and coursework that inform M.A.T. students of the range of educational opportunities that exist in public, private and charter schools. Opportunities to work with specific populations of students such as ELL, bilingual and those diagnosed with language-based learning disabilities are also available.
- About Brown University and The Wheeler School
- Course of Study
- Clinical Experience & Coursework
- Requirements for Admission
- Experience
- Interview
About Brown University and The Wheeler School
Located in Providence, Rhode Island, both institutions offer the historic perspective gained from more than a century of educational leadership. The Elementary M.A.T. program, a collaboration between the two institutions, is designed to prepare committed men and women of all backgrounds to become outstanding teachers.
The Wheeler School, a coed, independent, nursery through twelfth grade school, founded in 1889, prides itself on its attention to pedagogy and the variety of educational programs it offers. The school historically provides a highly collaborative teaching atmosphere, rigorous performance standards, a well-developed program for mentoring student teachers, and a faculty dedicated to excellence in its craft. Wheeler is the site for a unique “school-within-a-school” for students with diagnosed language-based learning difficulties in grades 1-8. The program, known as the Hamilton School at Wheeler, is a national model for teaching students with learning differences.
Course of Study
The Elementary M.A.T. program prepares college graduates for careers as teachers in elementary classrooms, grades 1-6. The program is designed to draw on current knowledge of children’s social, emotional and cognitive development, and teaching from both theoretical and practical perspectives. It provides three distinct clinical experiences, coursework, observation, and supervisory coaching in best practices that promote high academic achievement of all students. Throughout their coursework and clinical experiences, M.A.T. candidates are exposed to principles of human development, aspects of social contexts, cultural and linguistic diversity, learning differences and difficulties, and current curriculum and instructional strategies. These techniques include balanced literacy, inquiry-based science, hands-on, investigative, problem-solving math instruction, visual arts, physical education, health, interdisciplinary project-based planning, formal and informal assessment strategies, and organizing instruction for both independent and cooperative learning.
Students participate in a collaborative program, taking courses with Brown faculty and adjunct lecturers from The Wheeler School and Providence Public Schools, and work with experienced elementary mentor teachers.
The successful completion of the program indicates that the M.A.T. candidate has met the Brown University Practice-Based Standards for Teachers as determined by his or her supervisors, instructors and mentor teachers. Candidates provide documentation of their achievement through written self-analyses and professional portfolios that are submitted and evaluated three times during the course of the year.
<Sample Course of Study diagram>
Clinical Experience & Coursework
SUMMER
- EDUC-2110 Practicum & Analysis Seminar
1 cr. (Includes SummerPrep Program - 3 weeks team teaching in an urban elementary setting; 2 weeks visual arts workshop; physical education work shop; daily Analysis Seminar)
SEMESTER I
- EDUC-2120 Practicum & Seminar in Elementary Education
1 cr. (Practicum involves 2 1/2 days per week in an elementary classroom for 10 weeks) - EDUC-2140 Methods & Materials of Math, Science, Technology
1/2 cr. - EDUC-2150 Language & Literacy in the Elementary Classroom
1/2 cr. - EDUC-2130 Issues & Trends in Education
1 cr. - *** Elective Course in Education
1 cr.
SEMESTER II
- EDUC-2140 Methods & Materials of Math, Science, Technology
1/2 cr. - EDUC-2150 Language & Literacy in the Elementary Classroom
1/2 cr. - EDUC-2270 Student Teaching
1 cr. (4 1/2 days a week in an elementary classroom for 16 weeks) - EDUC-2280 Seminar: Principles of Development, Learning, and Education (Analysis)
1 cr.
Requirements for Admission
All applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree. In addition, one course in child development and one course in multicultural perspectives as related to education or demonstrated equivalent experience are required. Applicants uncertain about whether they have completed this coursework may email or fax a copy of their transcript and/or course descriptions to the visiting director of Elementary Education at Millicent_Veal@brown.edu or (401) 863-1276. If applicants lack this coursework, they may complete the requirement(s) at a college or university, a community college, or online prior to the start of the MAT program in June. Before signing up for a course, contact Professor Veal to determine if it will satisfy the necessary requirement. All applicants are required to submit their application to the Graduate School at: apply.embark.com/grad/brown. Click on "MAT Application Information" for specific information.
Experience
Applicants are strongly encouraged to have some prior experience working with children in a role such as tutor, mentor, or counselor. No prior teaching experience or degree in education is necessary.
Open Houses
Open houses will be held in the Education Department, Barus Hall, on the Brown campus on the following dates:
- Friday, October 12, 2007 (3:00-4:30 pm)
- Friday, November 9, 2007 (3:00-4:30 pm)
- Saturday, December 1, 2007 (12:00-2:00 pm)
Directions to Barus Hall can be found at: www.brown.edu/Departments/Education/directions. Suggested RSVP to: TeacherEd@brown.edu or (401)863-2407.
