PRAXIS

PRAXIS offers you the opportunity of a partnership between Northern Arizona University and the Flagstaff Unified School District, along with charter and private schools. This opportunity benefits classroom teachers, students, and you. As a pre-service teacher taking a dual-major in special and elementary education, you will earn certification in Cross Categorical Disabilities (high incidence) and/or Low Incidence Disabilities.

As a candidate, you will work in various levels of inclusive classroom placements during the three-semester program.

After the third semester, candidates may choose to complete their student teaching in one of a variety of schools, depending on availability.

PRAXIS means “theory to practice.” To apply this philosophy, our instructors place students in actual classrooms, where they teach under the guidance of professional educators. The curriculum covers all required coursework leading toward the Arizona state credential certification for elementary (grades K-8) and special education (grades K-12). This includes low and high-incidence disabilities.

Over the course of 18 months, PRAXIS pre-service teachers (candidates) will spend a great amount of time in the real world of general education and special education classrooms. Initially, they may spend the majority of that time observing students and learning classroom procedures. This is a “kid watching” period that enables the PRAXIS pre-service teachers to better understand the developmental characteristics of elementary and middle school students. Gradually, they assume greater teaching responsibilities. In addition, they observe partner teachers modeling age-appropriate instructional practices.

Following the observation period, the PRAXIS pre-service teachers spend the remaining time in their different classroom placements engaging in teaching, continued observation, and other teaching-related activities. Most of the practicum time occurs in the morning. In the afternoons, the focus is on the theoretical foundations of education. At this time, candidates take their methods classes linking theory to practice. Theory is applied to addressing real classroom concerns, heightening its meaningful application to the process.

It is expected that PRAXIS pre-service teachers will be assuming more and more responsibility for teaching, especially in the last two placements. As the semesters pass, knowledge, practice, and confidence increase, preparing candidates for the transition to student teaching and success in future teaching experiences.

Value and vision statement

Learner-centered education (NAU: Candidate Success)
We value programs that give candidates the greatest chance of success by including components that are experiential and collaborative (often in mutually-beneficial partnerships with schools), problem-centered, reflection-oriented, outcome-based, research guided, and technology-rich. We are committed to modeling effective learner-centered practices and dispositions.

Commitment to diversity (NAU: Educational Access; Diversity)
We actively promote diversity among administration, faculty, staff, and candidates. We endorse respect for diversity in our curriculum and pedagogical applications.

Innovation and inquiry (NAU: Excellence in Education)
We focus on research that serves the organizations for which we prepare professionals, and we view our mission as incorporating new knowledge into the preparation of professionals and spreading this knowledge to the practitioners already in the field.

Advocacy (NAU: Integrity and Civility)
We believe that advocacy for learners, and for equitable and effective institutions, is a central responsibility.

Life-long learning (NAU: Excellence in Education)
We believe in the concept of continuous learning for personal and professional development and strive to instill that value in our candidates. Integral to this is our commitment to preparing candidates in the use of appropriate technologies both as learners and education professionals.

Typical morning:
8:00 A.M. – arrive at Weitzel for placement
8:25 A.M. – school begins, greet the students, and assist in teaching the class
11:00 A.M. – lunch prior to class
11:30 A.M. – NAU class at Weitzel

Typical afternoon:
Each semester offers a different time schedule, however, you can be sure you’ll have afternoon classes at least three days a week. Generally, you don’t get out later than 7:00 P.M.

The practicum

From the first week in the PRAXIS Program, Northern Arizona University students are in an elementary or middle school classroom for 12 hours a week, working with teachers and students, and teaching. During the three-semester program, there are a total of five placements, including both special and general education classrooms. The placements vary in length from 8-11 weeks.

The theory to practice

In the PRAXIS Program, you will be able to apply the information that you learn from the coursework into a classroom immediately. This is a benefit that many education majors don’t get. That is one of the reasons why PRAXIS is the best!!

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