Graduate schools of education teach their students different methods of teaching and learning. Prospective teachers learn how to use visual representations, such as graphic organizers and word walls, to help students organize ideas and thoughts, understand relationships among those ideas and memorize the information.
The student engagement strategies that prospective teachers learn at graduate school include partnering and note taking. In partnering, teachers learn how to effectively communicate with the class to ensure that the teacher is treated not as a formal educator, but as a mentor and partner in the learning process. The partnering strategy helps teachers improve students' communication and thinking skills, enhance oral language development and provide active learning. The other student engagement strategy, note taking, helps teachers teach their students how to select and record the key ideas in any listening situation or written materials.
The principles of secondary education teaches the teachers of tomorrow about the foundation and growth of secondary education in the United States. Prospective teachers learn how secondary school programs are established, organized and implemented. In addition the course covers special programs and activities outside the classroom.
With many foreign students in U.S. schools, graduate schools of education train prospective teachers in how to effectively organize English as a Second Language (ESL) education. Historical, philosophical and theoretical aspects of ESL school training are typically emphasized. In addition, teachers learn effective instructional models and best teaching practices in ESL.
Another important course in graduate schools of education in the United States is the study of academic curriculum of U.S. schools. This course focuses on curriculum content and assessments. Teachers learn how to relate the curriculum and assessments to local, state, provincial or national standards. They also learn how to adjust the curriculum for diverse student populations that may include special education students or English language learners.