Courses and Descriptions
ELD 128 Developing Mathematical Ideas for Elementary School Teachers 1 Credits
Prospective teachers will examine the mathematics content and curriculum that is taught in grades K-6, focusing upon the multi-layered aspects of the topics that successful elementary teachers need to understand profoundly in order to provide appropriate instruction. There will be a series of topics selected from those that have historically been especially difficult for teachers to thoroughly understand at the depth needed to teach effectively. Some of the topics may vary each semester.
ELD 307 Foundations of Early Literacy, K-3 3 Credits
This course introduces students to the development of literacy in young children, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through the early elementary grades. Students will learn what research has revealed about how young children develop the insights, skills, and conceptual knowledge that enable them to successfully learn to read and write. Students will learn to support young learners and prompt the development of foundational skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing. In addition, the course examines the relationship between oral language and literacy and the role motivation and social contexts play in literacy learning. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 308 Fostering Literacy and Language Development Across Disciplines 3 Credits
Explores evidenced based practices for literacy instruction in grade 3-6. Students study foundational reading and writing skills alongside theories and practices of motivation and engagement to support literacy and language development and learning. Students learn assessment measures for identifying individual literacy learning needs and methods for organizing instruction that includes access to diverse texts and resources to support all learners. Threaded throughout the course is the importance of understanding and supporting the diverse linguistic, cultural and learning experiences of students and communities and the awareness of how children comprehend and construct text across multiple modalities. Disciplinary literacy strategies children access for success across content areas are studied. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 350 Early Adolescence 1 Credits
This course will focus on common dilemmas faced by young people as they move from childhood into adolescence. It will examine age-related differences between children and adolescents and consider ways to create stimulating environments that fit this developmental transition. Representations of adolescence in the media and in research will be compared, including common stereotypes.
ELD 355 Teaching in the Inclusive Middle School Classroom 1 Credits
This course will highlight the legal and ethical responsibilities of general education teachers in the middle school classroom. The special education process will be discussed and methods to address special needs in the classroom will be shared. Strategies to differentiate instruction and work collaboratively with school community members will help pre-service teachers develop and implement effective instruction that meets diverse needs in the middle school inclusive classroom.
Prerequisite(s): EDU 106 and EDU 206 and a cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 360 Structure and Culture of Middle School Classroom 1 Credits
This course focuses on the teaching of those concepts critical to the understanding of the structure and culture of middle school education. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 375 Methods of Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Classrooms 3 Credits
This course focuses on the teaching of mathematics that is developmentally appropriate for students from nursery to grade eight. In keeping with ACET, NAEYC, and NCTM Standards, emphasis is placed on planning for and implementing an integrated curriculum approach, discovery learning, hands-on experience, theme cycles, use of technology, and traditional and non-traditional assessment strategies. Field experiences will consist of classroom observations and teaching individuals and/or small groups of students. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
Prerequisite(s): EDU 106 and EDU 206, MTH 102 or MTH 105 or MTH 150 or MTH 210.
ELD 376 Teaching Science, Social Studies and the Arts N-6 3 Credits
This course focuses on methods and materials of instruction in science, social studies, and the arts that are developmentally appropriate for students in preschool through grade six (based on NCSS, NSTA, and NAEA Standards). Emphasis is placed on an integrated approach to curriculum, with lesson and unit planning activities that incorporate hands-on-experiences, discovery learning and traditional and non-traditional assessment strategies. Field experience will consist of observation and analysis of classroom instruction and the teaching of lessons to individual and/or small groups of children. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 380 Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Middle School 3 Credits
This course focuses on the teaching of mathematics that is developmentally appropriate for students in grades six through eight. In keeping with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards, emphasis is placed on planning for and implementing an inquiry-based approach, hands-on experience, use of technology, and traditional and non-traditional assessment. Field experiences will consist of observations and teaching to individuals, small groups and whole classes of students. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 385 Teaching Science in the Middle School 3 Credits
This course focuses on the teaching of sciences that is developmentally appropriate for students in grades six through eight. In keeping with the National Science Education Standards, emphasis is placed on planning for and implementing an inquiry-based approach, hands-on experiences, use of technology and traditional and non-traditional assessment strategies. Field experiences will consist of observations and teaching to individuals, small groups and whole classes of students. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 390 Teaching Social Studies in the Middle School 3 Credits
This course focuses on the teaching of social studies that is developmentally appropriate for students in grades six through eight. Its focus will explore understanding of United States history, geography and civics from the perspective of the middle school. The course emphasizes the ten themes of social studies as developed by the National Council for the Social Studies. In addition to the facts, concepts and generalizations encompassed by the ten themes, the course works with academic, social, thinking and citizenship skills. The required, intensive field experience in a middle school promotes direct application of the concepts, skills and dispositions addressed in the course. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 395 Literacy Learning in the Middle School 3 Credits
This course focuses on the teaching of literacy that is developmentally appropriate for students in grades six through eight. It explores processes in reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing, relationships among the language arts and other subject areas, and the development of critical literacy and cognitive strategies. The intense field experience in a middle school promotes direct application of the concepts, skills and dispositions addressed in the course. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
ELD 490 Independent Study: Research and Creative Expression 1-6 Credits
Provides the student with an opportunity to study an area of personal interest. The outline for the study must be accepted by a sponsoring professor and approved by the student’s department and academic dean. The number of semester hour’s credit to be assigned is determined by the department.