This course will focus on the diverse literacy needs of children within the regular education classroom. State and federal legislation concerning inclusion of children with disabilities and the concept of "least restrictive environment" will be studied. An exploration of personal and societal biases will allow teachers increased self-awareness in teaching a divergent population. Appropriate best practices for enhancing literacy in all children will be presented.

This course focuses on topics such as identity, social factors of language use, cultural and linguistic diversity, and the many educational contexts in which English learners develop their cultural and linguistic identity in the United States. In addition, this course addresses the many ways that teachers and administrators can apply culturally responsive teaching to support the academic English language development of English learners in their schools.

This course serves a dual purpose: (1) it focuses on the fundamentals of instructional design and the use of multimedia technology as a teaching and learning strategy that addresses diverse student needs and encourages active participation in learning; (2) it emphasizes technology tools that facilitate communication and collaboration within local and global learning communities as a means of improving leadership functions and effectively engaging with others in online and remote learning environments.

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.

This course is designed to provide teachers with a foundational knowledge of classroom management and behavioral intervention for mild to moderate behavioral challenges. It will also provide strategies to support teachers with diverse classes, including students with disabilities. Prevention and intervention strategies will be examined as outlined in multi-level systems of support (MLSS). Students will utilize behavioral assessments and will acquire resources for successful intervention with problem behaviors.

This course asks students to re-examine their role as one who generates change in the education system by engaging in self-reflection and self-assessment of his/her current classroom best practices. In addition, students will be asked to develop a plan for future professional growth and development, including their pedagogical strengths and their opportunities for improvement. Students will develop of professional development plan as their path to continuous improvement as an educator.

This course examines specific methods for identifying learning styles and how to design activities and instructional approaches to accommodate each style. Designed for all grade level teachers.