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Applied Child Development

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the theoretical and empirical knowledge base concerning adolescent development. In particular, four broad areas will be considered: (1) psychological, biological, and cognitive transitions; (2) central developmental tasks of adolescence; (3) primary contextual influences; and (4) prevalent types of problematic functioning that emerge during adolescence. The overarching goals of the course are to provide a solid and broad understanding of how and why adolescents develop in the manner they do, and to extend this developmental understanding into research, application, and practice.

Educating Learners with Disabilities

This course focuses on the education of students with disabilities and other learners from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The goal of the course is to promote access to the general curriculum for all students through participation in standards-based reform. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides the theoretical framework for this course. Through an examination of historical milestones, landmark legislation, systems for classification, approaches to intervention, and the daily life experiences of diverse learners, students acquire knowledge about diversity and the resources, services, and supports available for creating a more just society through education.

Mathematics and Technology: Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum

This course presents methods and materials useful in teaching mathematics to early childhood and elementary school children and the different ways in which technology can be used in the elementary school classroom. The course will consider the teaching of mathematics and the use of technology from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Social Students and the Arts: Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum in the Elementary School

This course is designed to help students examine historical interpretation with critical analysis through history and the arts. It explores different areas of content and instructional methods directly related to Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks in social studies, literature, and the arts.

Teaching Reading

This course is designed to offer preservice teachers theoretical and practical knowledge and experience into teaching literacy to elementary age students. Emphasis will be placed on the social, political, and cultural context of reading instruction. Students will gain understanding of major theoretical perspectives on literacy development and the myriad strategies for teaching reading in a variety of contexts. Students will also be expected to spend time in a context where they can gain experiences in providing reading instruction in a relevant and productive way.

Teaching Language Arts*

Examines the development of written and spoken language and methods of instruction for oral and written language from the preschool years through early adolescence. Students learn strategies for identifying children's areas of strength and weakness and to plan instruction. Addresses the needs of children from non-English speaking homes. Expects students to spend at least 16 hours distributed across at least eight sessions in a classroom or other setting where they can work with one or more children.

Teaching About the Natural World

This course is designed to increase confidence, enthusiasm, and knowledge for teaching elementary science. Science can be an essential part of an elementary classroom not only to achieve key science learning goals, but also as a means to engage and motivate students as well as support literacy and mathematics learning. An overarching focus of the course is on the idea that science is a "practice" that includes specific ways of reasoning, communicating, and acting. The course is also designed in partnership with the afterschool program at Gardner Pilot Academy in BPS. For eight weeks during the course, undergraduates will work with elementary students to teach them science and to reflect on how to design more effective science lessons.

EDUC7435

Social Contexts of Education

Examines the role of situational, school, community, peer, and family factors on the education of children. Participants in the course will strive to understand the effects of their own social context on their education, to develop strategies to help students understand their context, and to understand and contribute to what schools can do to improve teaching and learning and school culture for all students regardless of internal and external variables

Teaching Bilingual Students in Elementary Education*

Deals with the practical aspects of the instruction of teaching English Language Learners in Sheltered English Immersion, and mainstream classrooms. Reviews and applies literacy and content area instructional approaches. Includes such other topics as history and legislation related to English Language Learners and bilingual education, and the influences of language and culture on students, instruction, curriculum, and assessment. There are two sections of this course: one for elementary and early childhood education majors and one for secondary education majors.