Program Distinctions

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An extensive network of Franklin College Education Department graduates serves as mentors for elementary education teacher candidates.
Franklin College earned a grade of A+ from the National Council for Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for Science of Reading in the elementary education program.
Franklin College was awarded the Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana (ASRI) grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for the elementary education program.
Teacher candidates receive classroom training and experience in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math).
Franklin College was awarded the Indiana STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Teachers Recruitment Fund Grant from the Commission for Higher Education for its elementary education program.
Franklin College has a 100% placement rate for elementary education graduates.

Photograph of a Franklin College elementary education student reading a book in a classroom.

Preparing competent, caring decision-makers.

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Elementary Education Major Handout

Emphasis on Field Experiences

Franklin College has emphasized the value of clinical field experiences for 50 years, and has maintained a strong and long-standing relationship with local K-6 schools for the immersive clinical field program.

Elementary education majors complete six distinct clinical experiences prior to student teaching and gain valuable classroom experience through opportunities to interact with students having varied backgrounds and learning needs. While assisting teachers in whole-class, small-group, and individual instruction, these experiences include engagement with exceptional learners in inclusive environments. A one-semester experience focuses specifically on progress monitoring and differentiating instruction for multifarious learners.

Photograph of a Franklin College elementary education student working on an exercise with a child.

Digital Fluency

Guided by the department’s Educational Technology Specialist, Elementary Education students may earn certification in Basic Use of Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals. During field experiences, students learn about the SAMR model and describe how each component pertains to the experience. As part of the STEAM course, students learn about the TPACK framework. Students also gain experience with many other platforms such as Microsoft Office, Canvas, Google Classroom, Kami, Padlet, Kahoot, Blooklet, Quizizz, Edpuzzle, Curipod, Rubistar, Tinkercad, and Code.org. Students learn how to use Bee Bots, ViewSonic ViewBoard/Whiteboard, Vibe Smart Whiteboard, Cricut, doc cams and more. Students may earn certifications through the Canvas Design School in Canvas Essentials and Teacher Essentials.

Virtual Teaching Simulations

In addition to in-person field experiences, Elementary Education students gain valuable teaching experience through virtual simulations using Teach Live!®. Avatars enable situational experiences related to day-to-day teaching, from classroom management to parent-teacher conferences.

Other Information

Elementary Education faculty advise candidates from the freshman year forward, guiding them through the steps necessary for program admission and completion.
The Science of Reading has been the foundation of our Elementary Education reading instruction for over 20 years.
Faculty host workshops to help prepare students for required licensing examinations.
Students are encouraged to participate with their peers and pursue leadership opportunities in Education Club.
An Elementary Education major must meet program admittance requirements prior to the start of junior-level department courses. Those requirements include a demonstrated standardized proficiency in basic skills, 3.0 cumulative GPA, and a satisfactory performance on the Dispositions, Aptitudes and Proficiencies for Teaching assessment.

Photograph of elementary education students in a science classroom at Franklin College.