Our Favorite Classes in The McKay School of Education

Kamora Johnson

McKay Student Ambassador

Physical Education

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When you first look at the classes required for your major, it can feel intimidating. There are so many courses and descriptions that may not make sense right away. But don’t worry! The McKay School offers so many fun and meaningful classes that help you become a better teacher and prepare you for having your own classroom one day. The faculty who teach these courses are incredible and truly want to support you along the way.

To make the class list feel a little less overwhelming, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite classes from each teaching major in the McKay School of Education:

Early Childhood Education- Mikaela Campbell

My favorite class this semester is ECE 355 which is Language Development. One reason I love this class is because this is one of my first classes where I am focusing more on the development side of my major. In ECE 355 I am learning the development of language from birth through age eight and how social, cognitive, and environmental factors affect language development.

I am also learning how to help my students by knowing how to encourage language development and recognizing language delays/disorders. In class we’ve talked about how incredible our brains are and how God knows what he’s doing. In our last class we discussed how we have the capability to learn any language when are born because our brains are divinely created to pick up on any language spoken.

Elementary Education- Rachel O'Malley

My favorite class in the major is Art for Elementary teachers class. In this class, we spent time learning about different art forms and the we got to try them out ourselves. We taught an art lesson to a group of students every week which was a good learning experience for teaching and super fun. We made clay instruments and lots of paintings. We’ve even went on a nature walk to admire God’s creation.

I love this class because I was actually able to go into the elementary school setting and teach students. I also love being able to express my creativity and try new things. I love learning how every person is unique and individual. God created all of his children with special abilities and talents, and it was awesome seeing those unique traits in children. The class makes me excited to use those unique traits to be a better teacher and to see every child the way God sees them.

Special Education- Sarah Wilde

One of my favorite classes I have taken for the Special Education major is CPSE 463: Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities. This class was fun because it was different than our other classes, where the main focus is on academics. In 463, we focused more on how we can help our students as individuals with goals and desires. We learned about various tools that can make the world more accessible, give individuals a voice, and enable our students to achieve more and reach their full potential as children of God.

Physical Education- Kamora Johnson

There are so many classes I could choose from, but the one I learned the most from was PETE 274: Fundamental Skills and Teaching Methods for Elementary Physical Education. This class was my first opportunity to teach real students, and it allowed me to take what I had learned in other courses and apply it in a real classroom setting.

One of the things I appreciated most about PETE 274 was how much it helped me understand classroom management. We talked about management strategies early in the course, but actually using those skills with elementary students was a completely different but valuable experience. Seeing what worked and what didn’t helped me grow as a teacher.

This class also strengthened my reason for pursuing a degree in physical education. Watching students enjoy PE and getting to know the kids helped me connect my experiences to the McKay School’s mission, especially the idea that every student is a child of God with divine potential. It reminded me why I want to be in education and the kind of teacher I hope to be.

In addition, Dr. Beddoes was always there to support us, which made me feel less intimidated to teach for the first few times. Because of the skills and confidence I gained in PETE 274, I felt much more prepared to teach the rest of my practicum semesters in junior high and high school.

No matter which major you choose, you’ll take classes that challenge you, support you, and help you grow. In the McKay School, classes are designed to help you follow the example of the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ, while giving you plenty of hands-on experience so you can feel confident and prepared when you step into your own classroom.

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If you have any questions about a major in the McKay School do not hesitate to meet with a student ambassador! Click here to schedule an appointment.