At Buffalo State we help our students learn how they can create dynamic lessons and units that connect literature, film, technology, and media to the diverse lives of middle and high school students. We explore how teachers can create English classrooms that matter, classrooms where young people engage in reading, writing, and critical thinking that encourages them to become active participants in the world around them. Our program prepares students to work in urban, suburban, and rural schools. We draw from new and cutting-edge research on teaching and learning in 21st century classrooms, as well as time-tested approaches to teaching the English language arts. We help our pre-service teachers develop instructional approaches they can use to create powerful learning spaces for their students. We believe, as Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Students become part of a larger community of English teachers as they study how to create meaningful learning spaces for students in grades 7-12.
Pre-service teachers work alongside urban, suburban, and rural classroom teachers while completing coursework focused on supporting the literacy development of young people by engaging them in meaningful inquiry into the larger ideas, themes, and issues impacting their lives and the world around them.
The program culminates in two seven-week student teaching placements and leads to a New York State Initial Certificate for teaching English in grades 7-12.
The program develops highly qualified teachers who are prepared to exercise leadership as accomplished professional educators.
Students choose to (1) complete the master’s thesis, a traditional in-depth exploration, usually of a literary topic and/or theme; or (2) complete a master’s project consisting of applied research in English education; or (3) take an English comprehensive examination.
This program is designed for students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in English or a related field from an accredited college or university and intend to complete the coursework required for New York State certification to teach English in secondary or middle schools.
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