COVID-19 Continues to Impact Education Practica
(Updated June 29, 2021)
The Governor has extended the Public Health Emergency Order until July 24, 2021. Institutions of Higher Education are now operating under the July 1 - December 31 deadlines for the edTPA and content test.
- The edTPA will be re-instated for student teaching in fall 2022.
- The appropriate content tests will be required PRIOR to student teaching beginning in fall 2022.
(Updated January 14, 2021)
Gov. Pritzker has extended the disaster proclamation for Illinois into February, 2021
Information for Spring, 2021 Student Teachers
After completing the methods practicum in unusual ways, ten preservice teachers started student teaching early in January. Some are teaching live, others are working in hybrid approaches, and some are teaching entirely remotely. Prof. Davis is meeting weekly with the group through senior seminar. The ten student teachers represent two secondary programs (English and history), the elementary program, music education, and Spanish education. Under the current conditions, the edTPA will not be required for licensure for spring student teachers.
Information for Spring, 2021 Methods Practicum and Learning Differences Practicum
There is a hope and expectation that we will be able to find placements for the later part of the semester for elementary and secondary/PK-12 methods practicum students. But this will not be easy and will be dependent on our partner schools openness to hosting while still trying to work around the impact of COVID.
Information for Spring, 2021 Teacher Aiding Practicum, Educ 225L
Mrs. Felker and Dr. Kim are collaborating to provide a meaningful practicum, even though enrolled students are unable to step into elementary or middle school classrooms. Video clips of effective teachers will be viewed and used to gain observational experience and skills will develop through teaching content to small groups of peers.
Information for Cross-Cultural Tutoring Practicum, Educ 136L
Prof. Vroom Fick has arranged remote tutoring opportunities with students who benefit from additional support.
The End of an Era
Dr. Jill Lederhouse, Professor of Education, is retiring at the end of the 2020-21 academic year after thirty years of teaching and leading in the Education Department of Wheaton College. Over these decades, she has taught math methods for about 750 elementary education majors and has mentored many methods practicum students and student teachers. Dr. Lederhouse established a partnership with the Grover Cleveland Elementary School in Chicago that has endured administrative and teacher changes in that building. Typically 3-7 student teachers live and student teach in Chicago in the fall under her supervision.
Dr. Lederhouse has also taught special education courses, senior seminars, and coordinated the undergraduate programs of WheTEP. As Chair of the Education Department, she collaborated with Wheaton's Development Department in establishing the special education program endorsement and the hiring of the Haskins Assistant Professor of Special Education. Besides publishing numerous articles, Dr. Lederhouse is the author of two books that deeply integrate her faith with her profession.
Beyond the Education Department, Dr. Lederhouse has contributed significantly to the Wheaton College community. Through speaking to alumni, serving on and chairing numerous standing committees, and her current leadership as Vice Chair of Faculty, her advocacy for faculty and students who are often overlooked or marginalized has made a difference on and beyond our campus.
After teaching her last math methods class this spring, the methods cohort presented her with a Bible including written words of encouragement and thanksgiving written by the students. Dr. Lederhouse's impact on educators will continue in the next generation of world-class teachers.
Illinois Changes Requirements for Subsequent Endorsements
The Illinois State Board of Education recently changed the requirements for additional endorsements that can be added to an Initial Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL). Whether one is an elementary education major, a secondary education double major or majoring in music education or a world language, additional endorsements allow the licensed educator to teach in other disciplines beyond the original license.
Secondary education majors typically earn a grades 5-8 middle grade endorsement in their content area, a subsequent endorsement added to their Secondary/High School grade 9-12 license. ESL and Special Education are the endorsements most frequently added by students majoring in elementary education. All subsequent endorsements also require passing a state content test, with the exception of the ESL endorsement.
Until December, 2019, these additional endorsements required 18-24 hours of coursework and many had specific designations of courses toward the endorsement. Now these endorsements all require only 18 credit hours, and specific Christ at the Core general education course hours can count toward the discipline-specific endorsements. The four middle grade endorsements (math, general science, ELA, and social science) still require a content-specific methods course. These two-hour courses are typically offered in the spring semester, with the exception of the middle grade general science methods course, currently offered in the fall.
Another change is that Wheaton can offer subsequent endorsements in content areas which do not currently offer an initial teaching license. For instance, a Wheaton student can now add an endorsement in art or psychology or Latin by completing 18 hours in the discipline and passing the state content test for that field.
For more information about specific endorsements, contact the Education Department. Details about many of the endorsements are also found in the Forms for Current Students on the department's website.