Middle Grades Education, M.A.T. (Teacher Residency Program)
The Middle Grades Education, M.A.T., Teacher Residency Program, leads to a master’s degree and a Professional Educator License endorsed for middle grades education (grades 5 to 8) and content-area endorsements in Science, Literacy, Mathematics, and/or Social Science. Visit Licensure and Endorsements at NLU for more details.
The field residency model requires teacher candidate placement in a classroom during an entire academic year.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. Young Adolescent Development: Articulate the unique needs of young adolescent learners based on their physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual (PIESS) development and the influences of gender, socioeconomics, culture, media, special populations (Plus+). Referred to as PIESS+.
PLO2. Young Adolescent Development: Distinguish that middle grades education (MGE) is designed to support the unique developmental needs of young adolescent learners.
PLO3. Middle Level Curriculum: Demonstrate deep knowledge in chosen content teaching field(s) to create meaningful learning experiences that contribute to each young adolescent’s competence.
PLO4. Middle Level Instruction: Deconstruct the impact of media/technology/popular culture on the lives of each young adolescent learner.
PLO5. Middle Level Instruction: Create and participate in joyful teaching and learning with young adolescent learners.
PLO6. Responsive Teaching: Demonstrate critical and creative thinking when working with young adolescent learners.
PLO7. Responsive Teaching: Implement responsive strategies for use within the diverse range of each young adolescent learner.
PLO8. Middle Level Philosophy and School Organization: Integrate knowledge of the philosophical ideologies, historical development, curricular models of middle grades education, and the leaders of the middle grades movement.
PLO9. Communication Skills: Exhibit effective listening, oral, written and technological communication skills with young adolescents, family and community.
PLO10. Professional Roles: Demonstrate a commitment to being an ethical professional, an educational leader and a life-long learner.
PLO11. Professional Roles: Apply mindful knowledge and respect of the unique community assets and school context to maximize success for each young adolescent learner.
PLO12. Advocacy: Commit to being an advocate who supports, listens and responds to each young adolescent, family and community member.
Program Details:
- Requires 35 SH for completion
- Candidates cannot be admitted to the program with more than two General Education deficiencies; these must be completed prior to participation in MGE 587
- Candidates must provide evidence of taking 21 SH of General Education coursework or equivalent CLEP/Dantes tests in the following areas:
- For candidates seeking MG science endorsement: 21 SH of science content (to include coursework in each of the following areas: physical science, life sciences, earth and space sciences)
- For candidates seeking MG literacy endorsement: 21 SH of literacy content
- For candidates seeking MG math endorsement: 21 SH of math content
- For candidates seeking MG social science endorsement: 21 SH of social science content (to include coursework in each of the following areas, in relation to Illinois, the United States and the world: history, geography, civics and government, and economics )
- Requires a passing score on the Middle Grades Education Content Area Test before Resident Teacher Student Teaching
- Requires placement in Residency training site
- Requires practicum
- Requires student teaching
Required Courses
Program Requirements - 22 SH
| MGE 501 | Introduction to Middle Grades Education: Young Adolescents in Context I | 2 TO 3 |
| MGE 507 | Voices and Choices in Middle Grades Education | 1 |
| MGE 509 | Integrated Curriculum in the Middle Grades | 1 TO 3 |
| MGE 520 | Methods of Teaching Content Area Literacy in the Middle Grades | 2 |
| MGE 577 | Teaching & Learning in Context | 1 |
| MGE 587 | Resident Teacher Practicum | 3 |
| MGE 597 | Resident Teacher Student Teaching | 3 |
| and | |
| MGE 510 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science | 3 |
| or | |
| MGE 512 | Methods ofTeaching Middle Grades English/Language Arts | 3 |
| or | |
| MGE 514 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Mathematics | 3 |
| or | |
| MGE 518 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Social Studies | 3 |
Note: MGE 507 must be taken for a total of 2 SH. MGE 509 must be taken for a total of 3 SH. MGE 597 must be taken for a total of 6 SH.
MAT Core - 10 SH
| CIL 505 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | 3 |
| EPS 511 | Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts | 2 |
| FND 510 | Social Justice Perspectives on the History and Philosophy of American Education | 2 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
Note: FND 510 must be taken for 2 semester hours.
Middle Grades Education Elective Options - 3 SH
Choose one of the following courses:
| CIL 500 | Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education | 3 |
| CIL 531 | Cross Cultural Education | 3 |
| ESR 514 | Research in Action: Becoming Practitioner Researchers | 3 |
| MGE 510 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Science | 3 |
| MGE 512 | Methods ofTeaching Middle Grades English/Language Arts | 3 |
| MGE 514 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Mathematics | 3 |
| MGE 518 | Methods of Teaching Middle Grades Social Studies | 3 |
| SCE 513 | Science Inquiry and Content for Teachers | 3 |
| SPE 501 | Educational and Diagnostic Assessment of Exceptional Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| SPE 506 | Frameworks, Perspectives, and Collaboration in Special Education | 3 |
For more information about this program, visit https://www.nl.edu/academics/educationmastersteacherprep/middlegradeseducation/