Early Childhood and Elementary Education, MAT

After admission to the professional internship , candidates receive student teaching placements. Candidates work with their cooperating teachers during the first week of school. Five days of clinical experience required.

This course explores methods and materials used in the teaching of the reading, language arts, and literacy at the elementary level. Emphasis is placed on oral language development, early and emergent language development, critical listening skills, using literature across the curriculum, and the writing process, which includes grammar, spelling, handwriting, and word processing. The course is designed to acquaint candidates with a variety of reading programs, theories, and approaches used in contemporary elementary school classrooms. Attention is given to strategies that aide in fluency, phonics, phonemic awareness, contextual and structural analysis. Attention is given to comprehension fostering strategies. Specific strategies for Content Area Reading are examined as well as strategies to be used with ESL students and Special needs students. The integration of technology, diversity in the classroom, critical thinking skills, and assessment and evaluation are also examined.

Examines the process of identifying children whose intellectual, physical, or emotional development deviates from normalcy in order to create strategies to accommodate them. (Field experience required.)

This course will investigate the structures of a safe and healthy learning environment that facilitates cultural and linguistic responsiveness, positive social interaction, active engagement, and academic risk-taking. A three tiered level of positive behavior suupports (PBS) will be explored as a framework for creating plans to accomplish a productive learning environment. Students will research primary sources in the field of education which will be used to inform their opinions and support their statements. (Field experience required.)

This course explores methods and techniques used in the teaching of Science and Social Studies at the elementary level. Emphasis is placed on the Science and Social Studies goals, writing objectives, lesson plans, assessment procedures, and the integration of other curricular areas. Literacy skills are examined as they apply to the goals of Social Studies and planning. Cultural diversity, differentiated instruction, integration of technology, and reflective teaching practices are also examined. This course is to provide the student with current strategies and methodologies for the teaching Science and Social Studies in conjunction with the Illinois Learning Standards and the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.

This course will provide a current and comprehensive overview of research and theory related to human learning. The course will emphasize major concepts of learning theory but will also cover relevant motivational and developmental theories. The course will underscore the relationship between theory, research, and practice. The purpose of the course is to acquaint students with the general concepts of learning theory, to review and understand theories of learning, to provide students the opportunity to engage in critical analysis of theories through class discussion and assignments, and to give students opportunities to consider and apply theories of learning when designing and interpreting instructional practice.

This course is a general methods course to prepare candidates for teaching at the elementary level. It is conducted with a major emphasis on actual clinical experiences focusing on the role of the elementary school teacher within the community, school, and classroom. Methods and techniques of classroom management, lesson planning, student assessment, and reporting are also considered, as candidates work with clinical instructors. As part of this clinical experience, students will complete a practice edTPA. Professional ethics and dispositions are also covered.

The course examines effective teaching strategies for teaching mathematics to elementary school students. It emphasizes placing students in a role where they actively think, reason, problem solve, and make sense of an inquiry-oriented, problem solving classroom environment. Students will examine children's strategies for making sense of various mathematical concepts and consider means of facilitating the development of these strategies. Field experience required.

Students will study early childhood development. The development of children in preschools, kindergarten, and the primary grades will be explored. This course includes the history, philosophy, and theory of early childhood education. Students will complete 15 hours of field experience in an Early Childhood classroom.

Student Teaching K-2 Education provides opportunity for candidates to practice within appropriate classrooms and to use the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that they have developed as scholars of education theory and advocates of best pedagogical practice. As the last of three courses comprising the professional internship, student teaching enables candidates to experience a realistic simulation of the total teaching experience. Course Fee $300.

This course explores the importance of play as a guiding principle for the development of the whole child. Students will explore strategies for teaching language arts, science, mathematics, social studies, art, music, and movement in early childhood classrooms within an integrated, thematic curriculum. Emphasis on appropriate play for children ages birth to 8, including individual, pair, small group and large group play as a means of intellectual development. Students will complete 20 hours of field experience in an Early Childhood classroom.

This course develops the instructional methods and assessment for an Early Childhood classroom. Students will design and assess instruction for all areas of a self-contained classroom based on developmental stages, community, and curriculum goals. Students will learn to identify central concepts and methods of inquiry; use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage development within the context of creating a positive learning environment. Students will complete 15 hours of field experience in an Early Childhood classroom.

Students will be introduced to strategies in developing positive and supportive relationships with families, community agencies, and schools in a diverse society. This course explores strategies for building understanding, trust, and effective communication with all children and their families including those who have special needs, have cultural and linguistic differences, come from non-traditional family configurations, and who face poverty, health problems, and/or family dysfunction.

Student Teaching Pre K-Kindergarten Education provides opportunity for candidates to practice within appropriate classrooms and to use the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that they have developed as scholars of education theory and advocates of best pedagogical practice. As the last of three courses comprising the professional internship, student teaching enables candidates to experience a realistic simulation of the total teaching experience.

This course is designed to investigate emergent literacy of typical and atypical development from infancy to age 8 with special emphasis on young children ages 0-5. Environmental, cultural, and social components are explored. Appropriate activities and experiences that provide opportunities for children to grow in literacy will be examined, while also ensuring that children are working in their comfort zone.