NW Missouri Times

An education student at Northwest Missouri State University is gaining practical experience in a preschool classroom from the first year of their degree program. The university's approach to early childhood education emphasizes hands-on learning from the start, providing students with over 550 hours of fieldwork by graduation.

Emily Fluckey, a graduate and now an elementary school principal, highlighted the benefits of this immersive experience: “I was knee-deep in the water freshman year, able to get neck deep by senior year, and I was comfortable coming into my career.” This extensive fieldwork gives graduates an advantage during job interviews and helps them enter teaching positions with confidence.

Research supports that substantial pre-service classroom experience leads to greater effectiveness with young learners. Northwest offers a unique on-campus laboratory school environment through the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center, where students can gain authentic classroom experiences from infant care through third grade.

The program’s structure allows students to gradually increase their responsibilities in classrooms. Starting with observations and assisting teachers, they progress to planning activities and teaching lessons. By their final year, students assume full classroom responsibilities under mentor guidance.

Northwest’s curriculum also includes training on culturally responsive practices and trauma-informed approaches to prepare educators for diverse classrooms. With Missouri teaching certification for birth through third grade, graduates are well-prepared for various roles in early childhood education.

The university boasts a 97.5% placement rate for its graduates, who often receive job offers before completing their degrees due to high demand in the field. Northwest's long-standing reputation as a teaching institution provides graduates with a competitive edge in the job market.