Elementary Education (M.Ed.)

The M.Ed. in Elementary Education program is designed around four educational principles grounded in theory, supported by research, and focused on practice:

Student thinking is the most important resource for a teacher.
You will pay attention to students’ emerging ideas and understandings, building and bridging from their initial thinking toward deeper and more sophisticated understandings of subject matter. Through video assignments, practica, and student teaching, you will develop and refine your skills in eliciting, interpreting, and building student reasoning to advance student learning.

Subject matter matters.
The subject areas of school curriculum are characterized by distinct forms of discourse, norms, and practices. Subject-specific foundations and methods courses help you unpack these elements and develop the instructional vision and skills to foster children’s learning.

Diversity is an asset, not a barrier.
In paying careful attention to learners’ sense-making and knowledge of subject matter, effective teachers capitalize on students’ academic, cultural, and linguistic experiences and skills to promote both individual and group learning. You will learn to design instructional tasks with multiple points of entry, as well as identify and build from differences in student reasoning.

Learning to teach occurs continuously—in relation—in and through practice.
Learning to teach happens in interaction with students, colleagues, and others over time. It requires the opportunity to act and space to reflect, so that you can draw connections between practical experience, defensible theory, and sound research. As you grow increasingly skilled, you will take on increasing responsibility in your classrooms – becoming competent and trusted members of your school community.

Teacher Licensure

Successful completion of the master’s degree in Elementary Education leads to a recommendation to the state for a teaching license in K–5.

The Office of Teacher Licensure coordinates teacher licensure policies and procedures for the Elementary Education program so you will be prepared to meet Tennessee and other accreditation standards for teacher licensing.

Peabody College graduates who become licensed in Tennessee also can become licensed in other states. But completing licensure requirements may call for work beyond  the normal degree requirements, especially if your undergraduate program was deficient in liberal education categories or in the academic major you have chosen for the Elementary Education program.