English Language in Global Context In this course we will discuss and write about the dominance of English in the global landscape. Course readings and films offer an interdisciplinary approach to the topic. We will begin the course with a geographic and historical overview of World Englishes and then will examine the impact of English language dominance on individuals and societies, emphasizing themes such as migration, globalization, education, and identity. Throughout the course, we will explore the relevance of these issues to educators, linguists, and policy-makers around the world.

Introduction to TESOL In this course we will study theories and practices relevant to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in the U.S. and abroad. We will examine curricular resources used with adolescent and adult learners, and practice developing materials applicable to a variety of classroom settings. We will also discuss critical issues in the field, such as linguistic prejudice, language maintenance, and social justice pedagogy. Class sessions are largely hands-on, and include student teaching demonstrations with peer feedback. Opportunities for community engagement are also available. The final project is a portfolio that includes a personal philosophy of teaching.

Mathematics for Teachers What mathematical knowledge should elementary and secondary teachers have in the 21st century? Participants in this course will strengthen and deepen their own mathematical understanding in a student-centered workshop setting. We will investigate the number system, operations, algebraic thinking, measurement, data, and functions, and consider the attributes of quantitative literacy. We will also study recent research that describes specialized mathematical content knowledge for teaching.

Unlearning Colonial Habits In this course we will explore habits of knowing and being (epistemologies and ontologies) that are legacies of settler colonialism and examine whether “unlearning” such habits expands the possibilities of a liberal arts education. To provide time for contemplative practices and place-based seminars, 12 contact hours will be held on Saturday September 17 and Sunday September 18, 2022, prior to the start of fall semester (six hours daily). The remaining six contact hours will comprise three, two-hour seminars during the first half of fall semester. Readings and practices will be drawn from the writings of Bayo Akomolafe, Karen Barad, Beth Berila, Cheryl Harris, Laura Rendon, Toni Morrison, Tharon Weighill, Kenny Xu and others. Sophomores Only.

Education in the USA What are schools for? What makes education in a democracy unique? What counts as evidence of that uniqueness? What roles do schools play in educating citizens in a democracy for a democracy? In this course, we will engage these questions while investigating education as a social, cultural, political, and economic process. We will develop new understandings of current policy disputes regarding a broad range of educational issues by examining the familiar through different ideological and disciplinary lenses.

Conflict Transformation: Mindfulness Skills as Educational Praxis This course will introduce students to a variety of approaches to conflict transformation (CT) using skills-based practices from the fields of mindfulness and contemplative education. Conflict, as a personal or collective act of disruption, will be examined as a driver for social/political and individual change. We will examine this work through the theoretical lens of social justice and liberatory educational philosophies. Using these frameworks, we will also explore mindfulness-based skills as tools for engaged inquiry, including: identifying shifting conceptual frameworks and mindful states and employing embodied practices as learning praxis.

Writing to Heal This writing-intensive course examines writing as a catalyst for healing after loss or grief. In a workshop focused on student writing, we will analyze fiction, drama, poetry, and creative nonfiction as a basis for discussions.  To this end, we will read creative non-fiction, memoir, and novels.  Assignments for this course will include formal analytical essays, creative work (published online), and oral presentations.

Environmental Education In this interdisciplinary course students will learn foundational principles and practices in environmental education. Topics include ecological citizenship, environmental literacy, place-based education, learning theories, nature pedagogy, school gardens, and forest schools. Most class sessions will be held outdoors, where students will apply and extend their learning, develop lessons, and practice teaching. This course is appropriate for students interested in outdoor environmental education in formal or non-formal settings with any age between early childhood and high school. Field experiences with community partners occur outside of class. Approval Required (EDST 0115)  3hrs. lect.

Sophomore Seminar in the Liberal Arts The current pandemic, and all the questions it brings to the fore about what we value in a college experience, make this an ideal moment to consider the meaning and purpose of your liberal arts education. At the heart of this exploration will be a question posed by physicist Arthur Zajonc: “How do we find our own authentic way to an undivided life where meaning and purpose are tightly interwoven with intellect and action, where compassion and care are infused with insight and knowledge?” We will examine how, at this pivotal moment of decision making, you can understand your college career as an act of “cultivating humanity” and how you can meaningfully challenge yourself to take ownership of your intellectual and personal development. Through interdisciplinary and multicultural exploration, drawing from education studies and philosophical, religious, and literary texts, we will engage our course questions by way of student-led discussion, written reflection, and personal, experiential learning practices. In this way we will examine how a liberal arts education might foster the cultivation of an ‘undivided’ life, “the good life”, a life well-lived.

Global Perspectives on Literature for Youth Literature in translation, post-colonial English literature, and the literature of immigrants are a growing part of literature available to American children. We will examine literature from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia originally written in English or in translation. What makes international literature distinct from multicultural literature? Do these literary traditions bridge cultural gaps? What issues arise in translating for children? What is the phenomenon of "Americanization?" What are the implicit and explicit cultural and/or ethnic expectations regarding authorship and criticism in international literature? In this class we will examine these questions through the lens of literature for children.

Critical Issues and Methods in Teaching Writing: Process Pedagogy to Multiliteracies In this course students will learn to work with writers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines while developing their own writing practices and habits. We will learn about writing pedagogy, tutoring strategies, and current topics in writing studies such as process pedagogy, technology and literacy, and multiliteracies. Students will explore multiple writing modalities while developing innovative teaching practices. Upon successful completion of the course, interested students will be invited to work as peer writing tutors in the Writing Center.

Understanding Educational Testing Achievement testing is now a cornerstone of education policy. It is also complex and routinely misunderstood by educators, policymakers, and the media.  In this course students will use statistical methods to explore and address testing issues that arise in both policy and practice. We will examine the uses and abuses of educational assessment. We will examine and interrogate trends and group differences in achievement. And we will broaden our understanding of essential concepts of measurement, such as reliability, validity, and bias, by analyzing both large and small datasets. Prior experience with the statistical package “R” is not required, as learning this package will be part of the course.

Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Pedagogies Gloria Ladson-Billings’ foundation work on culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) rests on these core propositions—students must experience academic success; students must gain cultural competence in relation to their own culture and at least one other culture; and students must develop a critical consciousness. In this class we will examine CRP and other liberatory pedagogies such as Culturally Sustaining (Paris, 2012); Reality Pedagogy (Emdin, 2016), Abolitionist Teaching (Love, 2019) each of which “seek to open up possibilities,” so that students can bring their “whole self into the classroom and into the world.” (Ladson-Billings, 2021).  This is a required course for all students seeking a Vermont teaching licensure.

Educational Psychology: Learning in Schools In this course we will expand our understanding of learning and teaching while exploring principles, issues, and research in educational psychology. We will examine learning theories, complex cognitive processes, cognitive and emotional development, and motivation, and apply these constructs to effective instruction, the design of optimal learning environments, assessment of student learning, and teaching in diverse classrooms. (Restricted to EDST majors, others by permission.)

Educational Psychology: Learning in the Community In this course we will expand our understanding of learning and teaching while engaging with the local school community, including professionals and stakeholders who support K-12 students in various roles. We will examine curriculum theory, teaching theories, and practices that support social-emotional as well as proficiency-based learning, trauma-informed teaching, and the use of personalized learning plans to support student growth and development.  In this way, students will continue to understand and develop effective instructional practices, the design of optimal learning environments, meaningful assessment tools, and effective and engaging teaching strategies for diverse, inclusive, innovative, student-focused classrooms.

The Non-Native Speaker in a  Multilingual World In this course we will address linguistic, educational, and ideological dimensions of the non-native speaker identity and multilingual societies. What does it mean to be a non-native speaker? Why is this linguistic identity considered by some to be a stigma and by others to be a privilege? How do societies succeed in and fail at integrating speakers of different languages? In which ways do language policies and educational practices in the United States and around the world reflect linguistic and social realities?

How Languages are Learned: Theories and Implications In this course we will develop a nuanced understanding of the cognitive, social, and educational factors that enable humans to acquire second languages. What is the difference between first and second language acquisition? How can instruction and curriculum be optimized to help learners? How are languages acquired in naturalistic settings? What is the impact of technology on language education? How do ideologies impact bilingual education in the United States and beyond?

Make Room: Teaching August Wilson August Wilson has been hailed as “Theater's Poet of Black America,” yet many students have little exposure to this theatrical and literary giant. In this course we will explore Wilson’s "Century Cycle" a collection of 10 plays-each set in a distinct decade- that portray African American experiences in the twentieth century. We will take an interdisciplinary approach to reading, analyzing, staging (where possible), and understanding Wilson’s work. We will explore key influences on Wilson’s work including the blues, The Black Arts Movement, visual artist Romare Bearden, essayist and fiction writer Jorge Luis Borges, and playwright/poet Amiri Baraka among others. We also will engage with visiting artists, scholars, teachers, and community members as we consider Wilson's impact and the importance of teaching and studying his work. 3 hr. lect.

Models of Inclusive Education In K-12 education, the term "inclusion" is often reduced to where students with apparent disabilities learn within schools. In this course, we will challenge the segregation of students with disabilities in schools while expanding notions of inclusion such that students' multiple identities are incorporated into learning. Students will be introduced and provided opportunities to design lessons using a Universal Design for Learning framework. We will utilize DisCrit (Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory) as a theoretical tool to explore how ableism and racism stand in the way of equitable education for many students while exploring theories, methods, and approaches to disrupt such marginalization and lead to inclusive antiracist educational practices.  (EDST 0115 or SOAN 0215 or SOCI 0215 or AMST 0105).

Reading & Writing the World: Teaching Literacy and Social Studies in the Elementary School In this course, we examine what it means to be literate in the 21st century and ways in which all students can be empowered by the texts and teaching they encounter in schools. Students will develop their ability to enact literacy instruction based on current research about how children learn to read and write. We will take a critical look at texts—fiction, nonfiction, and historical—to consider the ways that texts read and write the world, develop abilities to select texts that empower all learners, and analyze retellings of historical events/persons to take into account multiple perspectives.  Many class sessions occur onsite at a local elementary school to provide consistent practice and supportive feedback on authentic components of teaching (transportation provided). In addition to class sessions, students will complete field experiences in a K-6 classroom in the Middlebury area to see the workings of an entire class.

Elementary Science Methods In this course we will investigate children’s scientific understanding and how to design learning experiences to advance their understanding. Working closely with practicing elementary school teachers, students will spend time each week in local schools, observing science instruction, conducting assessments, lesson planning, and teaching standards-based lessons. Students will learn to use a claim/evidence/reasoning framework to develop children’s scientific explanations. We will also study recent research in science education and the engineering and design process. Students will gain an understanding of how to plan, implement, and assess science instruction through seminars. Students will also continue to work on their Vermont licensure portfolio. [Open to EDST Elementary Licensure candidates only].

Elementary Math Methods In this course we will approach mathematics as the construction of ideas rather than the memorization of facts and rules. We will investigate children’s mathematical reasoning, how to construct learning experiences to advance conceptual development, and how a social justice stance enables math to be a source of empowerment for children. Many class sessions occur at a local elementary school (transportation provided) so students can ground their thinking about course topics within a school, and consistently practice and receive feedback on authentic components of teaching. Students will also complete field experiences in a local K-6 classroom and Vermont licensure requirements.

Children & the Arts  This course will examine the integration of the arts in elementary curriculum. Students will teach standards-based lessons that include the literary, dance, theatre and visual arts. Activities will include art projects, sketch journals, reading assignments, and the exploration of community and teaching resources. Students will gain an understanding of the important role the arts integration and hands-on learning can play in the development and implementation of the curriculum.

Field Experience in Secondary Education and Special Education In this course we will examine secondary teaching and special education at the middle school level.  In this seminar we will explore, through selected readings and case studies, the policy and pedagogy of special education for students with learning disabilities. Further topics in middle/secondary education will be addressed. Required for students seeking a major in secondary education. (Pass/Fail)

Education and Social Policy School choice programs like charter and magnet schools are dramatically altering the educational landscape in the United States. In this course we will examine the premise that we can overcome the challenges of children living in poor neighborhoods by severing the traditional link between neighborhoods and schools and by providing access to extralocal high-quality schools. But who gets to exercise such choice? Does school choice result in better educational outcomes? We will also explore the relationship between school and neighborhood inequality. How do these two contexts work together to reproduce, intensify, or ameliorate spatial and educational inequities?

International and Cross Cultural Education Who gets to own knowledge?  Who can acquire it?  How do we construct advantage and disadvantage?  Comparative and international education examines the intersection of culture and education and the ways they are inextricably related through history, politics, and literature. In this course we will explore major concepts, trends, and methodologies across disciplines, focusing on the effects of globalization, the maintenance and dissolution of borders, the commodification of knowledge, the social creation of meaning, and the consequences of those constructions. We will examine global educational traditions and realities on the ground in case studies of Western and developing nations.

Student Teaching in the Elementary School A semester-long practicum in a local elementary school under the direct supervision of an experienced cooperating teacher. (Corequisite: EDST 0410)

Student Teaching in Elementary School See EDST 0405.

Student Teaching in the Elementary School See EDST 0405.

Student Teaching Seminar Concurrent with student teaching, this course is designed to provide guidance in curriculum development and its implementation in the classroom, and to explore issues related to the teaching process and the profession. Students will construct a Teaching Licensure Portfolio as well as exchange ideas about their student teaching experiences. Topics including technology, classroom management, special education, and assessment will be featured. The Vermont Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities, the five Standards for Vermont Educators, the Principles for Vermont Educators, and ROPA-R will guide the development of the Teacher Licensure Portfolio. (Corequisite: EDST 0405, EDST 0406, EDST 0407 or EDST 0415, EDST 0416 EDST 0417)

Student Teaching in the Middle School/High School A semester-long practicum in a local middle or high school under the direct supervision of an experienced cooperating teacher. (Corequisite: EDST 0410)

Student Teaching in the Middle School/High School See EDST 0415.

Senior Seminar in Education Studies In this capstone seminar for General Education minors, students will engage, analyze, and offer solutions to real world problems in the current landscape of education. We will read extensively in the field, consider multiple research methods and approaches, and enlist community experts. Working across disciplines and collaboratively, students will create final projects that integrate and apply what they have learned in their coursework, developing and enhancing skills for creative problem solving and leadership in the field. Final projects will vary; all students will make oral presentations. (three of five required courses for the general EDST minor.) 3 hrs. Sem.

Social Justice and Evolutionary Spirituality In this “course” we will explore whether we can create intellectually dynamic spaces of regeneration and renewal while enrolled at an historically White supremacist institution. There are two central texts for our inquiry: (1) Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation (2016), by The Reverend Angel Kyodo Williams, Lama Rod Owens and Jasmine Syedullah, Ph.D.; and (2) American Awakening: Evolutionary Spirituality, Non-Duality & Free Thinking in the Tradition of American Philosophy (2020) by the spiritual philosopher, Jeff Carreira. Class meetings will involve contemplative practices, writing workshops and students will share in the leading of our seminar-based discussions.

Social Justice & Muslims in US What is the role of racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia in shaping attitudes towards Muslims in America? How have Muslim Americans organized against marginalization and what are the implications of their activism for all Americans? Combining culturally relevant pedagogy and empirical research, this co-taught course will explore how Muslims have animated social justice in the American sphere through their activism in the civil rights era and in shaping current American culture and politics. Due attention will be given to approaches to Islamic spirituality and social action, as well as the lives of American Muslim communities that lie at the intersections of religion, race, class, gender, and geography. An essential aspect of the course is you! The collaborative teaching and learning will guide our explorations as we participate in pedagogies of care, community and inclusive education.  Zahra Moeini Meybodi is the Associate Muslim Chaplain and Interfaith Advisor at Middlebury College, formerly lecturer at Hunter College CUNY. /Khuram Hussain is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Education Studies at Middlebury College./

School Lunches In this course we will chew through critical analysis on the production and consumption of school lunches. We will examine how diverse actors—state and national governments, big corporations, food service companies, celebrity chefs, community activists, and concerned parents—battle over what lands on the cafeteria tray. Using readings from the social sciences as well as food documentaries, we will explore how initiatives like school gardens and cooking classes shape child development and socialization. The laboratory component of this class will look beyond the U.S. context by making and eating meals served up to students around the world. Food preparation and consumption practices will be adjusted, as necessary, to comply with COVID restriction guidelines.

Introduction to Meditation Basic sitting and walking meditation will be taught and intensively practiced. We will use the breath to foster relaxed attention and to gain perspective on our restless minds. Emphasis will be on using these techniques in daily life and academic endeavors. We will read texts from the contemporary American, Tibetan and Zen Buddhist traditions, but the meditation will be employed in nonsectarian fashion applicable to any belief system. Truth should be verified by one’s experience. Students will write papers and give presentations. No meditation experience necessary.  John Huddleston retired from the Studio Art Program in 2017. For the last eight years he also taught mindfulness courses at the college.

Interpreting and Advancing Student Reasoning in Mathematics This course centers on K-12 students’ mathematical sense-making. Research-based frameworks—including learning progressions, teacher noticing, high-leverage practices, and practices for productive classroom discourse— will be used to interpret and respond to students’ reasoning. Emphasis is placed on practices that are critical to learning content, support equity, and disrupt patterns of injustice. Participants will collect and analyze classroom artifacts, including instructional tasks, samples of student work, and videos of their own teaching. We will collaborate on problems of practice, and plan instruction that promotes meaningful, student-centered math discourse. This course will support educators to better recognize and respond to students’ learning needs, facilitate productive discussions, and design instruction that builds on and advances student reasoning.

Engaging Diverse Worldviews in Contested Times: Theory and Practice In this course, we will critically examine theories of “worldviews” – defined as systems of beliefs that inform how we come to understand, and live in, the world. We will engage contemplative pedagogy to explore the nature of our own worldview and how it may shape what we personally value and the sources of information we find legitimate.  We will also deepen our capacity to facilitate complex moments of disagreement and tension as part of re-affirming how schools in a diverse, democratic republic can be places where student worldviews of all kinds are welcomed.

Catharine Wright

Catherine Canavan

Christina Johnston

Claudia Cooper

Deb Evans

Joe McVeigh

John Huddleston

Jonathan Miller-Lane

Khuram Hussain

Leigh Harder

Lida Winfield

Melissa Hammerle

Per Urlaub

Priscilla Bremser

Shawna Shapiro

Stacie Cassarino

Stephen Hoffman

Tara Affolter

Tim Spears

Tracy Weston

Trinh Tran

Zahra Moeini Meybodi

Read 176 reviews for Education Studies courses at Middlebury College. Find the best Education Studies professors and courses.  Discover your new major today!

This course was fantastic. I learned a lot about teaching outdoor ed through the readings and class. The part that was the most time-consuming was creating weekly lesson plans but executing those became an enjoyable experience. Those short responses, and a big project at the end are the major components of the coruse. The course also takes place outside and is such a lovely way to spend a class. 

Wonderful class by a wonderful professor. The material is very interesting and important.  Makes you engage with the flaws both in education and our world at large. Tara is kind, passionate, and incredibly helpful. You will not get a bad grade if you try hard and care. 

Super easy class. At times did not quite see the importance of the material. It was interesting but very repetitive. The material was material that I was already very familiar with. I am not sure I learned anything new. If you want an easy class with a very sweat professor, take this class. 