The goal of the Middle Grades Education program at University of North Carolina Wilmington is to assist in providing an appropriate education for early adolescents in grades 6?9 through the preparation of teachers who are well educated and professionally competent. 

The conceptual framework for the middle grades education program is one which is common to all teacher education programs at UNCW: Watson College of Education develops highly competent and effective professionals to serve in educational leadership roles.  

Upon completion of the undergraduate Middle Grades Education Program (EMG), the student should be able to:  

• Demonstrate breadth of disciplinary and general knowledge.  

• Demonstrate depth of knowledge in at least one area of study.  

• Communicate effectively in conventional formal English, both orally and in writing, in appropriate situations.  

• Adapt instruction to the developmental and learning needs of individuals, including exceptional children and children from non?mainstream cultural backgrounds.  

• Establish a classroom climate conducive to the learning, social, and emotional needs of young adolescents.

• Choose appropriate objectives consistent with state and local curriculum guidelines, the learning needs of students, and guidelines established by learned societies.

• Provide effective objective?based instruction for a variety of types of learning in two subject areas of the middle grades curriculum.

• Employ appropriate evaluation procedures and use evaluative information as a basis for revising and generating plans.

• Implement appropriate technologies to facilitate learning.

• Establish a pattern of reflective learning and inquiry leading towards confidence, professionalism, and effectiveness in the role of teacher.