Course Offerings

Purpose Seminar: Analysis of Teaching Behavior (EDU 520 PUR) (1 Credit)
In their first student teaching practicum, student teachers blend theory, trends and practice as materials, activities, standards, subject matter and assessment relate to the primary grades in the context of an actual elementary school classroom.

Constructive Action: Teaching Practicum Grades 1–3 (EDU 520 CON) (3 Credits)
Develop, implement and evaluate an organized plan with objectives and strategies to effectively teach a primary elementary school class in the role of a student teacher. Emphasis on facilitating children’s academic, social and ethical development through rigorous curriculum planning and effective teaching practices. Student teachers practice acquired skills and gradually assume increased responsibility for instruction, classroom management and other related duties for a class of students under the supervision of college faculty and a certified teacher who has responsibility for the class.

Values and Ethics: Classroom Management for Academic and Social Growth (EDU 521 VAL) (2 Credits)
Focus on establishing and maintaining a classroom environment conducive to both academic and social-emotional learning. Emphasis on preventing disruptive behavior by developing positive teacher-student relationships and engaging instruction in a caring learning environment. Meeting the instructional needs of diverse learners including the managing behavior and promoting development of positive social interaction skills of students with disabilities. Student teaching experiences in the lower grades provide resources for course discussions.

Values and Ethics: Project SAVE Education Seminar (SEM 521 VAL) (2 Credits)
The seminar includes study of the warning signs within a developmental and social context that relate to school violence and other troubling student behaviors. The values, regulations and policies relating to a safe, nonviolent school climate through effective classroom management techniques and the integration of social problem solving and other academic supports that promotes a nonviolent school environment. The required noncredit seminar complies with Project SAVE (Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act).

Values and Ethics: DASA Training Seminar (SEM 522 VAL) (2 Credits)
New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. This seminar includes training in the prevention and intervention of harassment, bullying, cyber bullying and discrimination in schools. Effective December 31, 2013, all students in a registered teacher education program are required to complete this six hours of DASA training for New York State teacher certification.

Self and Others: Curriculum Development and Assessment in Special Education (EDU 521 SEL) (2 Credits)
This course examines and applies the basic principles underlying developing and planning curriculum with assessment for all students with exceptional learning needs, including students with autism. A strong emphasis will be placed on designing and assessing curriculum using research-validated methods including the teaching of reading and mathematics and methods of enrichment and remediation in reading and mathematics. The course includes curriculum planning by adapting instructional strategies, including implementing assistive and instructional technology, which correlates with learning styles and skill levels for students with disabilities and students without disabilities. In addition, the application of curriculum-based measurement, diagnosis and evaluation techniques of students with disabilities is integrated with the end-of-semester capstone Constructive Action research project required of student teachers this semester.

Systems: Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School (EDU 520 SYS) (3 Credits)
The course examines the learning concepts and structures using various instructional approaches that are the basis of the elementary social studies curriculum. Student teachers develop and use a social studies unit to teach students to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as future citizens of a multicultural democratic nation in a global society. Topics to be studied in preparing curricula include social studies concepts, facts, scope and sequence, learning standards, performance outcomes and unit planning for students of various backgrounds and learning capabilities. Instruction includes developing skills in teaching students to use technology to acquire information, to communicate and to enhance learning.

Technical Skills: Teaching and Learning Mathematics with Technology in Grades 4–6 (EDU 522 SKI) (3 Credits)
This course builds on Teaching and Learning Mathematics with Technology in Grades 1–3. Upper elementary grade examination on the topics of number sense, place value and problem solving that integrates addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills. Focus is also on the teaching of fractions, decimals, percentages, geometry, measurement, statistics, probability and algebra in grades 4–6. The lessons that student teachers develop for this course are differentiated to meet the diverse needs of all types of learners. The use of instructional and assistive technology and developing skills in teaching students to use technology to acquire and enhance mathematical learning.

Communication Skills: Reading Instruction for Upper Grades (EDU 520 COM) (2 Credits)
Extends the view of language and the reading processes to the upper elementary student. Increasing competence in basic reading strategies and research-validated methods of instruction, including diagnostic teaching of reading and writing across the curriculum for the benefit of students with disabilities. Continued emphasis on the reading/writing relationship, the use of assistive and instructional technology for improvement of learning, and methods of enrichment and remediation for all students including students with disabilities.

Purpose Seminar: Analysis of Teaching Behavior (EDU 530 PUR) (1 Credit)
The Purpose and its accompanying Constructive Action for the final semester is designed to help student teachers create classroom environments that will best meet the needs of all learners. Focusing on cognitive styles, social-emotional behaviors, gender identification, cultural variation and position in the group, student teachers acquire a variety of approaches and techniques, which enable them to define the range of learners in their classroom and to try out different methods and content tailored to the unique needs of their students. This comprehensive, integrated view of learners embraces children with special needs, including gifted children and those that are intellectually or physically challenged.

Constructive Action: Teaching Practicum Grades 4–6 (EDU 530 CON) (3 Credits)
Develop, implement and evaluate an organized plan with objectives and strategies to effectively teach an upper elementary school class in the role of a student teacher. The upper elementary school classroom serves as a background for building on the strengths of children in need of specialized teaching. Student teachers proceed into their second major teaching practicum; they increase their awareness of how students are genuinely different and how these differences can be addressed.

Self and Others: Exploring Cultural Diversity Through the Arts (EDU 530 SEL) (2 Credits)
Development and application of children’s learning experiences in the expressive arts. Approaches in developing age-appropriate materials and activities and techniques that reflect cultural traditions in response to the unique needs of diverse students in inclusive settings. Exploration of the ways in which the arts clarify and enhance academic curriculum and lead to opportunities for creative problem-solving and critical thinking.

Systems: Science Methods and Curriculum (EDU 530 SYS) (3 Credits)
Life sciences, the Earth sciences and the physical sciences provide the context for developing competency in constructing and carrying out science investigations with students. Theories of learning guide the inquiry process as science laboratory management techniques are explored. Emphasis will be placed on participatory activities that prospective teachers can use to develop their students’ science literacy. Student teachers develop and use a science unit. Instruction includes developing skills in teaching students to use technology as a resource for information and enhance learning of scientific concepts.

Technical Skills: Inclusion—Teaching Strategies and Classroom Management (EDU 531 SKI) (3 Credits)
Focus on the daily aspects of classroom management and teaching strategies for the inclusion of students with disabilities and English Language learners. Theory and practice interweave as student teachers plan and manage teaching and learning environments for individuals with disabilities in general education settings. Instruction includes selecting and using developmentally appropriate materials, using assistive and instructional technology and designing curriculum to address the needs and learning styles of upper grade students in diverse and inclusive educational settings, and strategies for collaborating with families. Consideration of various behavior interventions that improve classroom behaviors and promote the development of positive social interaction skills of students with disabilities.

Communication Skills: Diagnostic and Remedial Techniques in Reading (EDU 530 COM) (2 Credits)
Focus on effective approaches to teach reading, writing and language problems in inclusive classrooms. Naturalistic and standardized assessment protocols are examined in order to diagnose and evaluate for literacy problems of students with disabilities. Curriculum development for instructing students with disabilities. Consideration of reading and writing in the content areas provide opportunities to select and adapt materials and texts to meet the needs of unique learners. Instruction includes the use of assistive and instructional technology in teaching literacy for students with disabilities.

PURPOSE 2 – Teaching Effectively

Purpose Seminar: Analysis of Teaching Behavior (EDU 520 PUR)
Primary focus on providing each student teacher with the opportunity to synthesize understanding of elementary education and the national/state learning standards. In their first student teaching practicum, student teachers blend theory, trends and practice as materials, activities, standards, subject matter and assessment relate to the primary grades in the context of an actual elementary school classroom.

Constructive Action: Teaching Practicum Grades 1-3 (EDU 520 CON)
Develop, implement and evaluate an organized plan with objectives and strategies to effectively teach a primary elementary school class in the role of a student teacher. Emphasis on facilitating children’s academic, social and ethical development through rigorous curriculum planning and effective teaching practices. Student teachers practice acquired skills and gradually assume increased responsibility for instruction, classroom management, and other related duties for a class of students under the supervision of college faculty and a certified teacher who has responsibility for the class.

Values and Ethics: Classroom Management for Academic and Social Growth (EDU 521 VAL)
Examination and development of effective classroom management skills that optimize student learning. Focus on establishing and maintaining a classroom environment conducive to both academic and social-emotional learning. Emphasis on preventing disruptive behavior by developing positive teacher-student relationships, engaging instruction, in a caring classroom learning environment to meet the instructional needs of diverse learners including the managing behavior and promoting development of positive social interaction skills of students with disabilities. Student teaching experiences in the lower grades provide resources for course discussions.

Values and Ethics: Project SAVE Education Seminar (SEM 521 VAL)
The seminar includes study of the warning signs within a developmental and social context that relate to school violence and other troubling student behaviors. The values, regulations and policies relating to a safe nonviolent school climate through effective classroom management techniques and the integration of social problem-solving and other academic supports that promotes a nonviolent school environment. The required non-credit seminar complies with Project SAVE (Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act).

Values and Ethics: DASA Training Seminar (SEM 522 VAL)
New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. This seminar includes training in the prevention and intervention of harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, and discrimination in schools. Effective December 31, 2013, all students in a registered teacher education program are required to complete this six hours of DASA training for New York State teacher certification.

Systems: Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School (EDU 520 SYS)
The course examines the learning concepts and structures using various instructional approaches that are the basis of the elementary social studies curriculum. Student teachers develop and use a social studies unit to teach students to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as future citizens of a multicultural democratic nation in a global society. Topics to be studied in preparing curricula include social studies concepts, facts, scope and sequence, learning standards, performance outcomes and unit planning for students of various backgrounds and learning capabilities. Instruction includes developing skills in teaching students to use technology to acquire information, to communicate, and to enhance learning.

Technical Skills: Teaching and Learning Mathematics with Technology in Grades 4-6 (EDU 522 SKI)
This course builds on Teaching and Learning Mathematics with Technology in Grades 1-3. Examination of curriculum, goals, methods, and materials for teaching mathematics in grades four through six. Upper elementary grade examination on the topics of number sense, place value, and problem-solving that integrates addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills. Focus is also on the teaching of fractions, decimals, percents, geometry, measurement, statistics, probability, and algebra in grades four through six. The lessons that student teachers develop for this course are differentiated to meet the diverse needs of all types of learners. The use of instructional and assistive technology and developing skills in teaching students to use technology to acquire and enhance mathematical learning.

Communication Skills: Reading Instruction for Upper Grades (EDU 520 COM)
Extends the view of language and the reading processes to the upper elementary student. Increasing competence in basic reading strategies, research-validated methods of instruction, including diagnostic teaching of reading and writing across the curriculum for the benefit of students with disabilities. Continued emphasis on the reading/writing relationship, the use of assistive and instructional technology for improvement of learning, and methods of enrichment and remediation for all students including students with disabilities.

Technical Skills: Inclusion: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Management (EDU 523 SKI)
Focus on the daily aspects of classroom management and teaching strategies for the inclusion of students with disabilities and English Language learners. Theory and practice interweave as student teachers plan and manage teaching and learning environments for individuals with disabilities in general education settings. Instruction includes selecting and using developmentally appropriate materials, using assistive and instructional technology and designing curriculum to address the needs and learning styles of upper grade students in diverse and inclusive educational settings, and strategies for collaborating with families. Consideration of various behavior interventions that improve classroom behaviors and promote the development of positive social interaction skills of students with disabilities.

PURPOSE 3 – Meeting the Unique Needs of all Learners

Purpose Seminar: Analysis of Teaching Behavior (EDU 530 PUR)
The Purpose and its accompanying Constructive Action for the final semester is designed to help student teachers create classroom environments that will best meet the needs of all learners. Focusing on cognitive styles, social-emotional behaviors, gender identification, cultural variation and position in the group, student teachers acquire a variety of approaches and techniques which enable them to define the range of learners in their classroom and to try out different methods and content which are tailored to the unique needs of their students. This comprehensive, integrated view of learners embraces children with special needs, including gifted children and those that are intellectually or physically challenged.

Constructive Action: Teaching Practicum Grades 4-6 (EDU 530 CON)
Develop, implement and evaluate an organized plan with objectives and strategies to effectively teach an upper elementary school class in the role of a student teacher. The upper elementary school classroom serves as a background for building on the strengths of children in need of specialized teaching. Student teachers proceed into their second major teaching practicum; they increase their awareness of how students are genuinely different and how these differences can be addressed.

Self and Others: Exploring Cultural Diversity Through the Arts (EDU 530 SEL)
Development and application of children’s learning experiences in the expressive arts – art, music, dance, literature and other artistic modes of expression. Approaches in developing age-appropriate materials, activities and techniques that reflect cultural traditions in response to the unique needs of diverse students in inclusive settings. Exploration of the ways in which the arts clarify and enhance academic curriculum and lead to opportunities for creative problem-solving and critical thinking.

Systems: Science Methods and Curriculum (EDU 530 SYS)
Life sciences, the earth sciences and the physical sciences provide the context for developing competency in constructing and carrying out science investigations with students. Understandings of the structure of the science disciplines, child development and science standards combine to address the needs of all students in inclusive settings. Theories of learning, guide the inquiry process as science laboratory management techniques are explored. Emphasis will be placed on participatory activities that prospective teachers can use to develop their students’ science literacy. Student teachers develop and use a science unit. Instruction includes developing skills in teaching students to use technology as a resource to information and enhance learning of scientific concepts.

Communication Skills: Diagnostic and Remedial Techniques In Reading (EDU 530 COM)
Focus on effective approaches to teach reading, writing and language problems in inclusive classrooms. Knowledge of the commonality of basic needs and developmental stages of upper-elementary school children as a background for building on the strengths of students with literacy difficulties. Naturalistic and standardized assessment protocols are examined, in order to diagnose, evaluate, for literacy problems of students with disabilities. Curriculum development for instructing students with disabilities including methods for teaching reading and methods of enrichment and remediation in reading for preventive and corrective approaches as applied to practice. Consideration of reading and writing in the content areas provide opportunities to select and adapt materials and texts to meet the needs of unique learners. Instruction includes the use of assistive and instructional technology in teaching literacy for students with disabilities.

Self and Others: Curriculum Development and Assessment in Special Education (EDU 531 SEL)
This course examines and applies the basic principles underlying developing and planning curriculum with assessment for all students with exceptional learning needs, including students with autism. A strong emphasis will be placed on designing and assessing curriculum using research-validated methods including the teaching of reading and mathematics and methods of enrichment and remediation in reading and mathematics. The course includes curriculum planning by adapting instructional strategies, including implementing assistive and instructional technology, which correlates with learning styles and skill levels for students with disabilities and students without disabilities. In addition, the application of curriculum-based measurement, diagnosis and evaluation techniques of students with disabilities is integrated with the end-of-semester capstone Constructive Action research project required of student teachers this semester.