Education Department Resources

The following resources are for current Wartburg students and cooperating teachers. 

Core Course Checklists
Use the following resources to keep record of course requirements while moving toward program completion.

Teacher Education Program (TEP)
Students must submit the Application to the Teacher Education Program required form to gain entrance into the program. The form is usually filled out in Foundations of American Education. ED100/181.

TEP Timeline
Students can stay current on program requirements and plan for their future semesters using the teacher education program timeline. Admittance into the TEP used to require the Core Praxis tests, but as of Summer 2020, the state no longer required these tests to be admitted.  Wartburg is piloting an interview process to take the place of the Praxis Core tests.

TEP Admittance Interview
Admittance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) used to require taking the Core Praxis Tests, but as of summer 2020, the state eliminated this requirement. Wartburg College is working on an interview process to take the place of the Praxis Core tests.  Pilot interviews will take place Winter and Summer 2021 with full implementation of these interviews for the applying class of Fall 2021.

The Education Program Handbook serves as a guide for education students as they proceed through the Teacher Education Program at Wartburg College. The manual outlines the goals, requirements, and responsibilities of the education student as they move toward program completion and ultimately their initial teaching license. 

Student Teaching & Field Experiences

Student Teaching Handbook (PDF)
Provides information for the Wartburg student teacher and their cooperating teacher throughout their placement in an area school. This manual outlines the requirements, responsibilities, and procedures for the student teacher and cooperating teacher, and the role of supervising faculty and other education personnel involved in the student teaching experience.

COURSE
LOGS
EVALS
ED 173 Methods of Pedagogy FE Logs Eval
ED 181 Foundations – Data Sheet | Confidentiality Statement Logs
ED 215 Psychology of the Exceptional Child Logs Eval
ED 282 Teaching in the Secondary School
Logs
ED 284/214 Intro to Mild and Moderate
ED 326/382 Remedial Reading
ED 383 Educational Psychology
Logs
ED 384 Middle School Curriculum
Logs
ED 385 Reading in the Elementary School
Logs
ED 481 Early Childhood: Family & Community Relations
HE 250 Secondary Health Methods Logs Eval
MA 312 Teaching Elementary School Math
Logs
MA 470 Teaching Secondary School Math
MU 181 General Music Methods Logs Eval
MU 281 Choral and Instrumental Methods Logs Eval
PE 252: Physical Education for Elementary Grades Logs Eval
PE 470: Secondary Physical Education Methods Logs Eval
BI/CH/PHY 470 Secondary Science Methods Logs Eval
SCI 385 Elementary Science Methods Logs Eval

Introduction to Field Placements: Field experiences are placements in educational settings such as schools and registered day care centers, which allow education students to directly observe and participate in the setting. Wartburg students participate in field experiences by either taking specific field experience courses or by taking education classes having field experiences embedded within them. There are two types of field placements: field experiences and student teaching. Field experiences provide short-term placements in which education students observe teaching and learning in educational settings, and/or provide teaching under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher. Student teaching courses are long term experiences (14 weeks total and often divided into two 7-week experiences) in which students teach full time under the supervision of an experienced teacher and are expected to become increasingly independent in their curriculum development, lesson planning, classroom management, and teaching.

General Information

Student Information

Teacher Information

Mission Statement: Provide opportunities for students to develop the talents and abilities necessary to become effective and reflective teachers in lives of professional service and leadership as a spirited expression of their faith and learning. A primary purpose of teaching is to be of service to the students and families in the schools and community.

Functions of the Education Department: The department serves all of the teacher education programs within the teacher education program and works with students in the early childhood, elementary, and secondary programs to arrange placements in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade settings. The office serves the following functions: 

  • Fosters and maintains effective partnerships with schools and day care centers
  • Coordinates and facilitates necessary contracts between K-12 schools and Wartburg College to permit students to have field placements
  • Develops programs and organizes assistance for the educational partner settings

Objectives of Field Experiences: There are four key objectives that have been identified to serve as guidance in helping students become effective and reflective teachers. They are: 

  • Gain greater insight into the professional responsibilities of a classroom teacher (instructional strategies, classroom management, documentation, assessment/evaluation)
  • Gain professional understanding and practical teaching experience through observation, planning and practice under the guidance of an experienced teacher 
  • Provide opportunities to integrate classroom concepts and pedagogy into practice in an engaging and active way, which is differentiated to meet the individual needs of children
  • Gain experience working with colleagues in the school setting and develop deeper insight into the climate and culture of schools

Field Experience Background Checks
All education students must complete the Single Contact Repository (SING) background check before participating in any field experience or student teaching.

In order to apply for Substitute licensure, you need to:

  • Be 21 years of age
  • Be in the 3rd or 4th year of the Teacher Education Program (having completed at least half of the course credits toward the program)

If you meet these two criteria, you can:

  1. Log on to the Iowa Department of Education website and create an account to begin the licensure application. If you already have an existing account for Coaching authorization, you will use this same account. However, most of you will need to create an account.
  2. Complete an application for “Substitute Teaching.” There is no longer a distinction between pre-service substitute licensure and regular substitute licensure.
  3. You will need to secure an official transcript from the Registrar’s Office. Even though an official transcript is technically no longer official once you open it, the State requires that you upload this document. (Unofficial transcripts from My.Wartburg will not work.)
  4. You no longer need to complete the Mandatory Reporter training for Substitute Licensure. If you have done so, that’s fine. You will need this training for your Initial Teaching license. But it is currently not required for substitute licensure.
  5. Complete your fingerprint background check. Beginning June 5, 2023, the Board of Education Examiners made the transition to regional fingerprint centers. You can find information about completing the fingerprint background check here.
  6. Lastly, you will need to submit paperwork from the Wartburg Education Department to verify completed coursework and department approval. Contact Dr. Snyder to secure this documentation.

Student Teaching Handbook
Provides information for the Wartburg student teacher and their cooperating teacher throughout their placement in an area school. This manual outlines the requirements, responsibilities, and procedures for the student teacher and cooperating teacher, and the role of supervising faculty and other education personnel involved in the student teaching experience.

Student Teaching Application

School Listings
This link provides all student teachers with information about each school district in the area.

Licensure Procedures
Every Iowa teacher must be licensed to teach. The license requirements are set by a Board of Educational Examiners whose members are appointed by the Governor of the State of Iowa.

Job Information