School of Education and Graduate Studies

Teacher Education

The School of Education and Graduate Studies at Valley City State University believes an effective teacher is able to establish rapport with students and provide a nurturing, caring environment conducive to personal development. The teacher should be a person who has a love for learning and an adequate command of basic communication skills, as well as reasonable knowledge and skills in a field of study. An effective teacher should also be able to activate student energy to work toward a more just and humane social order.

The content of the teacher education curriculum at Valley City State University reflects what effective teachers need to know and should be able to do. The curriculum is designed to prepare teacher candidates with the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions to plan, implement, evaluate, and reflect on lessons for learning through coursework, mentorship, and a variety of field experiences. Tests for admission to teacher education, clinical field experiences, and tests for licensure contribute to the screening and evaluation of pre-service teachers.

The goals for Valley City State University student teachers are achieved through the policies and procedures presented in the student teaching handbook. By following the ideas and procedures presented in the student teaching handbook, it is expected that the candidate will successfully complete student teaching and continue to grow and develop toward becoming a more effective teacher.