M.Ed. in Elementary Education

The course will present the basic components of lesson planning using Understanding by Design (UbD). Students will learn techniques around differentiating instruction, including tiered instruction, scaffolds to accommodate differences in learning styles, needs, interests and levels of readiness of students. Students will examine specific systematic behaviors teachers use to create orderly, cooperative and motivating learning environments that promote student achievement.

Co-requisites (0 credits):

• ED 6500G – Pre-Practicum Field-Based Experience I
• ED 6501G – Teacher Education Program Orientation

The course provides an overview of the emergence of language and literacy as well as the assessment and identification of disabilities and their impact on academic and personal growth. Significant theories related to cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development in childhood will be reviewed.

This course provides an introduction to the significant theories, practices, and programs for developing literacy skills in children with learning challenges. Beginning with an introduction to literacy development, the focus will be on planning assessment, designing instruction, and selecting research-based interventions for children with disabilities, students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and students with limited educational experiences. Topics will include linking assessment to instruction, research-based methods and strategies, accommodations, modifications, and the use of assistive technology devices to support literacy success.

This course will focus on numbers and operations, and on functions and algebraic concepts as described in the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks for grades 1-8. As many children have mathematical capabilities beyond their grade level, course participants will be stretched to use and apply the mathematical concepts learned to multiple situations and to higher level problems. Emphasis will be placed on the attainment, articulation and application of the math concepts associated with each strand of learning. Teaching and assessment methods that are challenging yet attainable, and developmentally appropriate will be examined.

This course is designed to enable prospective elementary school teachers to teach mathematics efficiently and effectively to diverse student populations. Prospective teachers will learn how to develop and coordinate learning objectives, assessment techniques, and instructional methodologies according to the psychological principles of how children learn mathematics. Attention will be given to teaching recommendations from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Common Core State Standards as well as the professional standards for teaching determined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of Massachusetts.

The first section of this course will focus on science education. Attention will be given to cognitive development and scientific reasoning skills, the scientific method of inquiry, and elements important to teaching science and assessing student understanding. The second section will focus on health education, addressing the “Coordinated School Health Program,” law and policy around health and safety, signs and symptoms of maltreatment, and the assessment and interpretation of content for presentation to different cognitive and developmental levels. In both science and health, there will be a focus on application through investigations, and lesson and unit plan development based on the strands and standards of the Science and Technology, and Comprehensive Health Frameworks for the elementary grades. The third section will focus on the planning and development of the elementary physical education program.

The course will address three major aspects of social studies. Initially, there will be a focus on the development of geography skills and global awareness through the study of five world regions and the convergence of environmental, cultural, political and economic systems of globalization. Secondly, the course will focus on developing history skills such as critical, creative and analytical thinking, problem solving, valuing, and decision making. Lastly, the course will apply cooperative learning, vocabulary and concept formation, and online resources to the study of the Social Studies. Throughout the course, there will be a focus on the organization of curriculum, instructional methods and student assessment processes.

The purpose of this course is to prepare teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively design content instruction in order to support English Language Learners (ELLs) in accessing curriculum and achieving academic success as they prepare for their futures in the 21st century global economy. Throughout the course, effective research-based strategies will be modeled. Teachers will have opportunities to practice strategies, to analyze their practice, to provide and receive feedback, and to reflect on their own experiences. The course addresses three over-arching goals for teaching ELLs:

• To help teachers effectively carry out their responsibility for the teaching and learning of ELLs, as well as to understand the social and cultural issues that contribute to and impact schooling for ELLs.
• To expand teachers’ knowledge of how language functions within academic content teaching and learning, and how children and adolescents acquire a second language.
• Provide teachers practical research-based protocols, methods, and strategies to integrate subject area content, language, and literacy development using the Massachusetts English Language Development (ELD) standards and the World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) standards to support ELL students’ success in meeting standards of the 2011 Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks as well as the Common Core content standards.

This course is delivered in a hybrid model with on-ground elements delivered in person over a series of weekends. Alternate models for the completion of your SEI endorsement are available. Please contact the Program Director for more information.

This is the practicum required for licensure.