Faculty:

• Daniel Casebeer, Ph.D.
• Kathleen Harris, Ph.D.
• Denise L. Knedeisen, M.A. CCC-SLP
• Bonnie Ordonez, Ed.D.
• John M. Seybert, Ph.D.
• Jennifer Suppo, Ed.D.
• Teresa Vasinko, D. Ed.

For teaching certification requirements and learning objectives go to ”Education -Teaching Certification ”.

The Seton Hill University elementary education (pre K to grade 4) with special education (pre K to grade 8) major is dedicated to preparing undergraduate teacher candidates with: appropriate training and specialized skills to support children’s development and learning during the critical early years; professional knowledge, skills, and experience needed to become highly effective parent-infant educators, special education educators, and child care workers or kindergarten through grade 4 teachers. They will use this knowledge to effectively design appropriate teaching and assessment techniques to address the instructional needs of their students.

Learning Objectives: Elementary Education (Pre K to Grade 4) with Special Education (Pre K Grade 8)

1. Demonstrate knowledge of child development (both typical and atypical) and teaching strategies that match young children’s ways of learning.
2. Support the development of key social skills and be able to effectively prevent and modify behavior problems.
3. Demonstrate understanding that young children’s thinking is qualitatively different from that of older children.
4. Assist children’s learning in order to help them be successful in meeting school expectations.
5. Demonstrate understanding of language and literacy development of young children and how best to support it.
6. Communicate and work effectively with support staff, volunteers, and professionals.
7. Develop appropriate assessment procedures to conduct, diagnose, observe, evaluate, monitor, and report development of children.
8. Create developmentally appropriate materials, activities, and strategies in an integrated curriculum, including language arts (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), math, science, social studies, health, safety, nutrition, art, music, drama, and movement.
9. Design appropriate learning environments using play, themes, and projects to enhance development in cognitive, language, physical, social, emotional, and aesthetic areas.
10. Implement ongoing professional self-reflection.
11. Demonstrate awareness of professional code of ethics for making professional decisions.
12. Read and apply theory and research from professional literature in teaching practice.
13. Demonstrate effective use of technology in teaching young children.
14. Provide appropriate integration of children with disabilities in instruction. 
15. Work effectively with parents, families, and other adults from a variety of cultural/linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds. 
16. Demonstrate knowledge of community resources and how to use them.

All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education (pre K to grade 4) with special education (pre K to grade 8) must complete the Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements, the capstone assessment requirement, and the required courses for the major. In addition, all candidates must obtain the following clearances on a yearly basis beginning in the first semester of freshman year: Act 33 Child Abuse, Act 34 Criminal Record check, ACT 114 FBI Federal Criminal History Record, and PDE-6004 (Arrest or Conviction Report and Certification Form)

The capstone assessment includes the successful completion of state required practicum hours/competencies, a professional resume, a showcase portfolio that includes a personal early childhood education philosophy and selected early childhood education and special education class assessments based on the five National Association for the Education of Young Children standards and a gallery poster presentation for faculty of how students have integrated the University learning objectives, including the spiritual values of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, with their professional identity as early childhood teachers.