Curriculum and Learning

Materials and methodology for teaching a broad range of music activities in the elementary classroom, including singing, playing classroom instruments, moving, creating, and integrating music into other disciplines. Special attention will be given to ways of improving multi-cultural understanding through music.

The content, organization, and techniques of instruction in elementary science, from nursery school through grade eight. Field experience required. Scheduled fall, spring and summers in even years.

The use and meaning of numbers in children’s lives. Trends and national standards in mathematics teaching are examined. Field experience required. Departmental permission required. Scheduled fall, spring, and summers in even years.

Social experience, interests, and needs of children. Content and objectives of the social studies curriculum. Field experience required. Departmental permission required. Scheduled fall, spring, and summers in odd years.

Integration of language arts in the phases of oral and written expression, such as dramatics, choral speaking, and creative writing. Appreciation and knowledge of children’s books, including both historical and contemporary literature. Field experience required. Departmental permission required. Scheduled fall, spring, and summers in odd years.

An introduction to the teaching profession. Course topics include introduction to curriculum theory, characteristics of effective teachers, instructional planning, etc. Students will complete 30-hour filed work experience in a public school.

A one-credit seminar in conjunction with student teaching that deals with issues and current practices in education. Topics will include Connecticut state regulations, classroom management, planning for and implementation of curriculum, and student experiences. Scheduled fall and spring semesters.

A hierarchy of geometry teaching techniques beginning with the pre-school child's first topological ideas and extending through the elementary school grades. Opportunity will be provided for development of instructional strategies for involving children in the study of geometry.

Recent research appraisal of current practices and the needs of today’s youth. Opportunity for individual projects. Scheduled wintersession and summer semesters.

Identification of gifted children; recognition of their characteristics, abilities, and needs; and provision of adequate facilities for their development. Scheduled summer semesters.

Recent research, publications, films, programs and teaching. For teachers, principals, and supervisors of elementary mathematics. Opportunity for individual projects.

A study of outstanding city and state syllabi, textbooks, research publications, and collateral reading is made to determine the science concepts, principles, and activities at various grade levels. Attention also is given to the psychology of science teaching. Also listed as SCE 517.

Introduction of multicultural women’s studies content to education professionals. Workshop facilitators demonstrate strategies for infusing women’s studies content into K-12 curriculum. Also listed as WMS 518, HIS 518, IDS 518. Scheduled summer semesters.

An introduction to the use of digital texts and tools in education. Topic will include the skills and strategies necessary for online research and media skills. Scheduled fall and summer.

Continues the exploration of pedagogy and technology. Students learn how to use digital texts and tools to improve instruction and learning. Scheduled in spring and summer.

Provides an introduction of school law as it applies to teachers' and students' rights and responsibilities within the school and the classroom. The course will include discussion of major legal decisions that affect teachers and students. Scheduled fall and spring semesters and summers in odd years.

Supervised field placement in a public school designed to allow implementation of skills and knowledge gained in courses. Students will collaborate with a classroom teacher to design and implements small group and whole group lessons. Background check required.

Strategies for differentiating instructional content, process and product to meet the needs of diverse student populations. Scheduled fall semester.

The meaning of creativity, principles of creative teaching in the areas of art, music, movement, creative dramatics, and language arts at the elementary level.

The theoretical framework for a developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive curriculum for children in nursery, kindergarten, and the early grades. Foundations for later learning. Workshops in music, art, literature, and multicultural education. Scheduled fall, spring, and summers in odd years. Field experience required.

The selection, planning, guidance and assessment of learning experiences in the elementary school. Language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, media and technology considered in the light of cognitive psychology and learning theory. Scheduled fall, spring and summers in even years. Field experience required.

Theories and practices in parent involvement. Methods for helping teachers work sensitively and effectively with families and improving school-home communication. Scheduled spring semester.

Developmental stages of children from ages six to twelve, the years of the elementary school, and their impact on the teaching/learning process. Scheduled fall, spring and summers in odd years. Field experience required.

Promotes high energy in teaching as the primary modality for successful learning in math and science. It focuses on teaching energy as a matrix within which content is framed. Also listed as SCE 543.

The proactive and reactive components of effective classroom management. Emphasis is on the link between normative student development, academic performance, and behavior. Topics include environmental design, organizational design, establishment of rules and procedures, management styles. Offered fall and spring semester.

Development and implementation of a "brain-based" approach to instruction and assessment that takes advantage of the brain's intrinsic nature to make connections, look for patterns, and search for meaning. Emphasis is on inquiry, discovery, and the problem-solving methodology endorsed by current reform efforts for achievement of optimum learning and comprehension.

Critical examination of controversial issues affecting education. Scheduled summer semester.

Designing and utilizing strategies, curriculum, materials, and resources to infuse multicultural perspectives into the classroom. Practical training to reduce bias and prejudice. Scheduled wintersession semesters.

The curriculum of the modern school is examined. Principles and methods of evaluation, selection, and utilization of media are related to curriculum and personal needs of children and youth. Scheduled fall, spring, and summer semesters. (Formerly LSC 509).

Takes a developmental approach to the teaching of the language arts at the early childhood and elementary levels. Spelling, writing, and reading are studied in relation to child development and teaching applications. Scheduled spring semesters.

Provides a series of learning experiences designed to facilitate participants’ abilities to be effective urban classroom teachers. Current knowledge regarding the effects of successful instructional processes is examined with an emphasis on practice and implementation rather than theory. Scheduled summer semester.

A practical in-depth view of specific elementary level curriculum models including on-sight involvement. Issues to be analyzed include the learning environment, diagnostic tools, the role of the teacher, and curriculum objectives.

Students plan, develop, and implement a project related to elementary education with the aid of the instructor. Required of master’s students in the special project track. Scheduled fall, spring and summer semesters.

Research methods used in educational research and critical evaluation of published research. Scheduled fall, spring and summer semesters.

Special Topics in Education

Identification and investigation of a problem in the field of education and the preparation and presentation of a scholarly document summarizing the study or research. Scheduled fall and spring semesters.

Demonstrations, lectures, workshops, learning centers, subject matter experts, and assigned observations to enliven and enlarge the scope of the school curriculum. Scheduled fall semesters.

Psychological attitudes and assumptions and how they affect a teacher’s classroom performance. Course relates each student’s personal perspective to sound psychological practices and to the needs of the specific professional environment. Scheduled spring semesters.

Models of teaching in current use, the patterns on which they are based, and the alternative strategies possible for improvement of teacher competencies. Scheduled fall semesters.

An opportunity for the teacher to engage in research for professional growth and selfimprovement (by arrangement). Scheduled spring semesters. Cross listed with EDU 591.

Sharing of knowledge, a means of improving professional understanding concerning education. The student will contribute information on the procedures and/or findings of a field study. Scheduled summer semesters.

DSAP Supervision and Appraisal. Course can be repeated once for a total of six (6) credits.

Utilization of mainstreaming techniques with both regular and special populations of children. Philosophical, methodological, and problematical issues will be examined.

Interdisciplinary teaching and learning in K-12 schools, including team-teaching across disciplines, leadership, inclusive and culturally sensitive classrooms, and technology. Students participate together in classroom activities as well as virtually with other students worldwide. A home computer internet connection is convenient but not mandatory. Scheduled fall and/or spring semesters.

A course presenting the history and evolution of scientific thought and practice. Discusses the context in which scientific beliefs and paradigms are held. Will include significant advancements in science, as well as presenting trends, modes of thought and development of ethics.

A comprehensive study of reform programs and initiatives as they relate to science education. Examines designing learning environments, identification of effective methodologies, implementation of assessment techniques and curriculum development. Includes a discussion of state and national standards in science education.

Focuses on student competencies in digital sound and image productions, and their manipulation for classroom teaching and learning. Interactive curriculum materials, such as WebQuests, will be developed as well as Webpage and Webauthoring (e.g. HTML) portfolios. Issues of electronic copyright standards, computer ethics, multimedia selection and evaluation, and management are discussed.

This individualized special project would provide an opportunity for students to have an extended experience working in a mentorship, research experience in an area of science or science education. Potential mentors will come from industry, governmental agencies and universities (including SCSU). In consultation with a faculty adviser, students develop objectives and assessment methodologies. This intensive, selfdirected project culminates with a scientific research project or a comprehensive study in science education.

Students are actively involved in a collaborative research project that integrates the various scientific disciplines. Working together, students develop a research topic, identify the materials and methods required and investigate a research question.

This course is part 1 in a 2-part sequence that introduces science education graduate students to the different methodologies used in science education research. This course will prepare students with the fundamental understanding of how to conduct research in their own classrooms and will assist them in choosing a researchable question for part 2 - SCE 591 Action Research or EVE 551 Environmental Action Research.