Elementary Block Admittance

While more information will be given when the semester starts, here is some basic information about the elementary block.

The elementary block consists of five courses taken all at the same time to prepare you for student teaching. Tentatively, classes will be held from 9:00am – 11:00am on Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 1:00pm – 3:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (see chart below). Attendance is required to pass the elementary block courses.

• ELED 3460, Methods of Language Arts
• ELED 3470, Methods of Mathematics
• ELED 3480, Methods of Science
• ELED 3490, Methods of Social Studies
• ELED 3570, Methods of Classroom Management

*Wednesdays from 11:00am - 1:00pm will be reserved for block meetings, group work, debriefing, etc.

Tentative Weekly Course/Practicum Schedule:

Besides the five elementary methods courses, you will be spending time in three different practicum settings throughout the semester to give you diverse teaching experiences. These practicum experiences are required to pass the elementary block courses. Practicum is a service-learning experience, so practicum students cannot be paid for time spent in the schools. You will plan and teach lessons, supervise children, and learn from your mentor teachers in different practicum settings.

1. Iron County School District
   1. Spend 2-2.5 hours per day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays (approximately 90 hours during the semester)
2. Charter School in Washington County (St. George Area)
   1. Spend one full week, Monday - Friday (approximately 35 hours)
   2. This date is not set until the school year starts
   3. Carpool with peers is encouraged
3. Canyons School District
   1. Spend one full week, Monday - Friday (approximately 35 hours)
   2. This date is not set until the school year starts
   3. Carpool with peers is encouraged

*There will be one overnight retreat at the SUU cabin to learn more about integrating lesson plans. The date will be announced at the beginning of the semester.

*Course assignments, lesson planning, content knowledge, a positive disposition, effective teaching, group work, and reflection are required in the block.

While more information will be given when the semester starts, here is some basic information about the online elementary block.

The elementary block consists of five courses taken all at the same time to prepare elementary education majors for student teaching.

• ELED 3460, Methods of Language Arts
• ELED 3470, Methods of Mathematics
• ELED 3480, Methods of Science
• ELED 3490, Methods of Social Studies
• ELED 3570, Methods of Classroom Management

Besides the five elementary methods courses, elementary block students will be spending time in a practicum setting (in a general education K-6 grade classroom). After applying for Block, you will need to log into your Sonia Portal and select your school preference(s). See video for instructions. 

Once this step and any other admission requirements have been met, you can be admitted to the online elementary block by Shirley Wilson, wilson@suu.edu, 435-586-7802 Please talk to your online academic advisor, Seth Aiono at sethaiono@suu.edu, 435-865-8103. A face-to-face practicum experience is required to pass the elementary block courses. Some things to know about this face-to-face practicum:

1. The practicum must be face-to-face in your local, accredited elementary school.
2. The practicum placement must be in one general education, K-6 grade classroom for all your required hours.
3. The practicum needs to be arranged by Caitlin Ravanelli, caitlinravanelli@suu.edu, 435-865-8320, before you will be registered for the online block courses by Shirley (see above). Students should NOT arrange their own practicums.
4. The practicum student will spend two hours per day (10 hours per week) in the practicum classroom for the full semester (this time will count for all 5 elementary block courses). This is a requirement; a student cannot do half of their weekly hours in one day and the other half another day. The 10 hours must be spread out throughout the week.
   1. The 2-hour block of practicum time each day will be scheduled by the practicum student and mentor teacher
   2. Planning and teaching lessons
   3. Supervising children
   4. Learning from the mentor teacher (you will have the same mentor teacher all semester)
5. Practicum is a service-learning experience, so SUU practicum students cannot be paid for time spent in the schools for practicum hours.
6. Practicum students will complete two separate, week-long experiences in their practicum classroom
   1. The first week-long practicum experience will take place near the beginning of the semester
      1. The experience will include observing, helping, and getting to know the students, procedures, schedule, etc. of the classroom while spending full teacher contract days/hours at the school during that week.
   2. The second week-long practicum experience will take place near the end of the semester
   1. The experience will include taking over the classroom and solo-teaching; including planning, implementing lessons, managing the classroom, and taking over any extra duties (bus, recess, lunch, etc.) while spending full teacher contract days/hours at the school during that week.
   2. The practicum students will be required to film themselves teaching a lesson during this week.

*Course assignments, lesson planning, teaching, discussion posts, reflections, etc. are required in the online block. There will be due dates, but when students complete the assignments is up to the student's discretion.

*The online elementary education block and the face-to-face elementary education blocks are completely separate.

Are the online block classes only offered in the fall?

Online Block is offered Fall and Spring each year. It must be taken immediately before your student teaching.

Am I responsible for finding my own practicum setting?

No, please reach out to Caitlin Ravanelli (caitlinravanelli@suu.edu) regarding practicum placements. All contact with districts must go through Caitlin. You will request a placement through your Sonia portal (see instruction video); she will then contact your chosen district to secure your placement. You cannot begin your practicum hours until she has given you approval that your practicum has been received. Once your placement is finalized, she will notify you and you will be able to view your placement in your Sonia portal.

What are the expectations from your program in regards to Two weeks of Block experiences in schools with a high number of diverse learners?

In “online block” you will still do two different week-long practicum experiences like the face-to-face block, but unlike the face-to-face block, you are not to travel to accomplish them. Please do both of these week-long practicum experiences in the same classroom you are doing all of your other hours in.

What are the steps I need to take to find a classroom(s) in which to do the practicum?

1. Request a practicum placement by selecting your preferred placement location within the Sonia portal.
2. Wait for a reply from Caitlin that your placement has been confirmed before beginning your practicum hours.