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» Urban Elementary Education

The Urban Elementary Education program provides a curriculum tune-up, personal coaching, and tremendous collegial support for educators who already teach in urban schools and have less than five years experience. Because Simmons College is committed to supporting both education and beginning educators in the Boston area, the Urban Elementary Education program tuition is kept low — approximately 50 percent less than the tuition for our general education programs. The program draws a diverse range of general education, special education, and ESL teachers from Boston public schools, as well as from public, charter, and parochial schools in other urban districts.

Urban Elementary Education students strengthen their teaching practice by re-examining curricula and teaching strategies for inclusive urban classrooms — from teaching math and reading, to improving test scores and designing lessons for children with different learning needs, including second language acquisition. Seminar topics during the second year of the program are based on the current issues and challenges students face in their classrooms. Simmons teaching coaches work closely with students during both years of the program, providing mentorship and classroom support. Coaches help students identify and achieve individual goals for professional development. By the end of the program, students develop impressive portfolios with examples of lesson plans, assessment methods, samples of their students’ work, and more.

The Cohort Model

This program offers students the opportunity to reflect on their classrooms and methodologies within a unique cohort structure. Each cohort includes between 15 and 18 students who work with Simmons faculty to build the kind of fair and effective classroom community at Simmons that they wish to create in their own schools. This model provides a safe environment to discuss challenges, get inspiration and support, and share best practice strategies. It allows students to benefit from the experience and support of a richly diverse community of colleagues. Students say the cohort is one of their most valuable resources — it becomes a strong, collegial network that continues to offer personal and professional support beyond graduation.

Degree Options

Participants in the Urban Elementary Education program complete a 32-credit course of study in a cohort, leading to a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.). Those who already have a master’s degree may receive an additional master’s degree—or may, with faculty approval and a final project, complete a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.). The program requires a two-year commitment. Classes meet in the summer and one weekend per month during the school year.

Curriculum

Sample Courses
  • Achieving Mathematical Power
  • Literacy and the Second Language Learner
  • Fair and Effective Classrooms
  • Understanding Curriculum

Download the PDF Document Program Fact sheet for more information on the curriculum.

See our "Courses" section to view course descriptions.

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A Common Goal

“Our cohort became a second family to me. No matter what the challenges were, I never felt alone. Each of us shared a common goal: to make the educational experience of Boston Public School children the best it could possibly be.”
—Christina Hoenig ’02, M.S.Ed. Urban Elementary Education; J.M. Curley School, Boston

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