Elementary Education Department

 

About

 

The programs in the Elementary Education Department are designed to prepare thoughtful, knowledgeable, and effective educators for a diverse society. We encourage our students to solve problems, make good decisions, and show respect.

 

Impact

 

Your gift to the Elementary Education Department will help fund travel to conferences, international exchanges, professional trainings, and other kinds of professional development for our students. 

 

Past Professional Development 

 

NW Council for Computer Education

 

Graduate teaching assistants Lindsay Little and Sarah Dorfler, who teach Instructional Technology courses for the Elementary Department, attended the 2020 Northwest Council for Computer Education conference in Seattle. 

 

Close up of Lindsay Little, a woman with long curly hair, wearing conference her lanyard and leaning against a pillar.

 

"The conference continues to impact the way I think about teaching and learning. I can’t wait to graduate and incorporate what I learned into my classroom, and I’m sharing it all with my undergraduates students and classmates in my cohort. I am so grateful I got to attend, and I hope I can continue to do so when I get my teaching certificate."

         

                  -- Lindsay Little, Instructional Technology TA 

 

 

Partnerships With Southwest University 

 

Elementary Education sent a group of Early Childhood Education (ECE) students, faculty, and preschool teachers to Southwest University (SWU) in Chongqing, China in December 2017. The non-credit global exchange was part of a larger partnership with SWU. Two of the ECE students on the trip had acted as cultural ambassadors for a group of SWU students and faculty who visited Western's campus the previous summer.

 

A group of Chinese students at a table investigating the wood, rocks, and bottles of dirty water on the table.

 

A large group of faculty and students from Western and Southwest University in Chongqing, China pose at a desk.

 

 

Sweden Trip

 

Students who went on the trip learned about how another country supports refugee- and immigrant-students in the K-12 school system. They visited several schools and met with school, district, and regional education leaders. They were able also able to teach and participate in some high school classes.  The students learned about the Sami people--their history, customs, and relationships with the Swedish government. They also studied Swedish history, the Swedish language, and Swedish customs.  

 

A group of Western students and professors pose in front of a heart shaped sign in the town of Lulea in Sweden.

 

A group of students in cross a boulder field next to a bridge surrounded by pine trees.

 

Selfie of students and professor in the cabin of a tour boat.

 

 

Project GLAD Training

 

In 2017 Elementary Education faculty and student interns had the opportunity to participate in a OCDE Project Glad training. 

 

OCDE Project Glad is a professional training for teachers working with bilingual learners. It provides teachers with strategies to help all students, including native English speakers, develop their academic English skills in an environment that is considerate of students' native languages and cultures. 

 

A woman speaks to a group of people sitting in folding chairs in an elementary school classroom. Some people in the folding chairs are taking notes in binders others are listening attentively.

Trainer, Dawn Christiana, coaches training participants while they observe Trainer, and Elementary Department Faculty member, Dr. Marsha Riddle Buly teaching students using GLAD strategies.

 

A group of women sit around a table with multiple open binders on it in an elementary school classroom.

Second grade teachers and their Western student interns discussing GLAD strategies. 

Leaderboard
Top Five Fundraisers!
The WWU Alumni Association has rewarded the top five areas that secured the most donors on MAY 28 with a bonus of $1,000 each! Congratulations to our winners!
Rank Prize #WECARE Donors
1 $1,000 Student Emergency Fund 199
2 $1,000 Men's Rowing 174
3 $1,000 Ice Hockey 151
4 $1,000 Cross Country & Track and Field 101
5 $1,000 Marketing Program 87
Ended
$5,000
Whatcom Educational Credit Union Challenge
Now that we have reached $100,000 in dollars raised, a $5,000 gift from Whatcom Educational Credit Union has been unlocked!
$100,000 / $100,000 Raised
Completed
$5,000
Whatcom Educational Credit Union Stretch Challenge
Now that we have reached $300,000 in dollars raised for WWU Give Day, ANOTHER $5,000 gift from Whatcom Educational Credit Union has been unlocked because WE CARE about WWU student success.
$300,772 / $300,772 Raised
Completed
Don't forget to share!

Questions? See our FAQ.

Or you can contact us at giving@wwu.edu.