This course provides a critical examination of the formation and re-formation of education in the US public school system. The concepts and theories of power and oppression serve as a framework for understanding the her/historical, cultural, and political context of education. With a focus on the educational narratives of language, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and immigration status, culturally responsive education is explored as a tool for creating and sustaining educational equity.

Assessment serves as a cornerstone of special education, both in terms of eligibility determination and instructional planning. This course will focus on the wide array of assessment methods available for identifying students with disabilities and evaluating their responsiveness to instruction. Assessments included are norm-referenced, criterion referenced, curriculum based, observational, and dynamic. Students will design instruction, intervention, and support based on assessment results. Field experience hours required.

The process of creating an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for a student is the foundation for compliance with IDEA. A well-written IEP utilizes a team of individuals to address the students needs and write appropriate goals that can help to meet those needs. This class includes assessment practices, cultural and linguistic differences, individual motivation differences, and instructional arrangements to accommodate learning differences.

This course explores the process of collaboration and problem solving between students with disabilities, teachers, their families, and outside agencies. It provides an overview of IDEA requirements for students with disabilities. This course will also prepare students to plan for the transition of adolescents and young adults with disabilities from school to future careers, continuing education, and independent living.

Students will intern in a field experience at birth through 36 months integrating prior early childhood coursework through the preparation of interdisciplinary units designed and delivered in a birth through 36 months environment. Restricted to students admitted to the early childhood endorsement/licensure program.

Students will intern in a field experience with kindergarten children integrating prior early childhood coursework through the preparation of interdisciplinary units designed and delivered in a kindergarten environment. Field experience reflections addressing the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards will be compiled into a field experience portfolio. Restricted to students admitted to the early childhood endorsement/licensure program. May be repeated for credit.

Students will intern in a field experience in grade one, two, or three integrating prior early childhood coursework through the preparation of interdisciplinary units designed and delivered within an environment of children in grade 1-3. Field experience reflections addressing the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards will be compiled into a field experience portfolio. Restricted to students admitted to the early childhood endorsement/licensure program. May be repeated for credit.

Students will read, discuss, compare, and evaluate a variety of childrens and adolescents literature from the cannons to the current. Through a sociocultural perspective, students will use a critical lens to evaluate books, materials, and other teaching resources. Specific funds of knowledge that students bring to the classroom and how to effectively design and deliver classroom literacy experiences based on these funds of knowledge will be explored.

Teaching at pre-kindergarten or kindergarten level integrating prior early childhood coursework through the preparation and delivery of developmentally appropriate instruction in a child-centered environment. Capstone experience. Prerequisite: passing Praxix II score. May be repeated for credit.

Demonstration of leadership in effective PK-12 literacy instruction, mentoring, coaching, and staff development is the primary focus of this course. Students will use research and theory to explore literacy models, social and political aspects of literacy, language variation, and the cultural and community influences on language acquisition and learning. Leadership in developing, promoting, and assessing teacher professional development, family and community literacy programs, and effective professional learning communities will be promoted throughout the course.