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Elementary Education

Starting fall of 2021, Hope College will begin to offer the new elementary band program developed by the Michigan Department of Education. With this program, teacher candidates will be able to teach all subjects in the grade band or levels that their certificate covers.

In this program, each elementary candidate will select a primary grade band and a secondary grade band along with an endorsement in Special Education (Learning Disabilities and/or Emotional Impairment) or English as a Second Language.

How to Choose Your Grade Bands

You know you want to be a teacher. The first question you have to answer is:

“Do you want to be a special education teacher?”

If you want to be a special education teacher

Pick your primary grade band and your secondary grade band:

	Option 1	Option 2
Primary Major	PK–3	3–6
Secondary Major	3–6	PK–3
Add Third Major (if desired)	LD or EI	LD or EI or LD and EI* * LD and EI can only be done with a primary 3–6 major (no secondary major required).

If you do not want to be a special education teacher

Pick your primary grade band and your secondary grade band:

	Option 1	Option 2
Primary Major	PK–3	3–6
Secondary Major	3–6	PK–3
Add Minor (if Desired)	ESL	ESL

Grade band choices

PreK–3 courses will include content courses in how to teach those children 3 years old to 3rd grade content areas in math, social studies, science and literacy.

3–6 courses will include content courses in how to teach those children in 3rd to 6th grade content areas in math, social studies, science and literacy.

After completing Exploring a Career in Education/Level 1 coursework and formally being admitted to the Hope College Teacher Education Program, teacher candidates will continue their course work in grade bands and endorsements.

4-year Plans

Practice-Based Clinical Experiences

The Hope College Teacher Education Program focuses on Practice-Based Clinical Experiences/Field Experiences for all elementary and secondary bands and majors. These clinical experiences will include experiences where you observe classrooms, work with students, practice skills learned in class and increase your level of responsibility over time. These experiences are provided for teacher candidates to practice skills and content strategies learned and have feedback from teachers in real classrooms.

Teacher Certification

All program requirements must be completed in order for teacher candidates to apply for a teaching certificate in the State of Michigan. Learn more about certification requirements.