Students who have successfully completed a B.A. in Early Childhood through Middle Childhood Education from Lakeland University should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline he or she teaches and create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for pupils.
• Describe how children with broad ranges of abilities learn and how pupils differ in their approaches to learning.
• Demonstrate how pupils differ in their approaches to learning and adapt instructions to meet the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities.
• Use a variety of instructional strategies, including the use of technology to encourage children’s development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
• Apply an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
• Use effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques as well as instructional media and technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
• Organize and plan systematic instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, pupils, the community, and curriculum goals.
• Use formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of pupils.
• Evaluate the effect of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others; and seek opportunities to grow professionally.
• Foster relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and wellbeing; and act with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.
• Effectively integrate the principles of character education based on pro-social values and stimulates the examination and understanding of personal, social, and civic values.
• Integrate the central ingredients of critical thinking and use rational, evidence-based argument in the presentation of classroom materials.