Elementary Education

ELED 238 – Children’s Literature 3
Students will become familiar with award-winning picture books, novels, poetry, and non-fiction for children, pre-school through elementary grades, their illustrators and authors. Students will develop and collect instructional materials and activities for use in the classroom. Hands-on activities will include techniques for presenting and discussing literature with children. Issues such as censorship will be addressed. Fall, Spring

ELED 281 – Reading for the Elementary Teacher 3
This basic course is designed to prepare students to teach children to read. Students will have the opportunity to peer-teach and evaluate skills instruction and guided reading lessons from commercial materials, as well as to develop lessons of their own. Topics covered will include theories of reading, emergent literacy/reading readiness, word identification skills, vocabulary development, comprehension skills, and various approaches to teaching reading. Pre-requisite: Admission to professional education. Fall, Spring

ELED 282 – Reading Across the Curriculum and Content Reading 3
Students will have the opportunity to extend and integrate their knowledge of how to teach children to read in this advanced course. They will develop lesson/unit plans and guides for teaching reading across the curriculum that integrate reading and writing instructions in content areas. Students will acquire knowledge of study skills, how to conduct informal assessment of reading skills, how to adjust reading instruction for children with special needs, and classroom management of the reading program as it relates to all areas of the curriculum. Pre-requisites: Admission to professional education and ELED 281 – Reading for the Elementary Teacher. Fall, Spring

ELED 290A – Art Methods for Elementary Education 3
Methods of teaching art in the elementary school, with practical creative experience in a variety of media. Emphasis on multi-cultural activities, lesson plans, and the teacher as a reflective decision maker. This course is designed for the prospective elementary educator or art specialist and includes peer teaching and teacher-aide situations. Fall, Spring

ELED 290X – Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II 3
Topics include operations with integers, fractions, decimals, intuitive geometry, and probability. Other topics will include curricula materials, assessment, multiculturalism and mathematics, equity, gender and mathematics, technology and mathematics instruction, NCTM Curriculum Standards. Pre-requisite: MATH 277 – Mathematics for Elementary Teachers. Students are required to conduct assessment techniques to kindergarten-age children. The course culminates with peer teaching and peer critiquing. Spring

ELED 298 – Pre-Professional Experience: Elementary 1
Through observation, aide work, individual work with students, and the analysis of the teaching-learning process, prospective elementary education professionals are able to get first-hand experiences under the direction of an experienced classroom teacher in area elementary schools. The majority of time will be spent in the instruction-related areas, and the vast amount of clock-hour experience will be in direct contact with children. Co-requisite: EDUC 250 – Introduction to Education. S/U grading only. Fall, Spring

ELED 300 – Elementary Curriculum and Language Arts 2
Language arts in the elementary curriculum is examined with emphasis on contemporary views such as “whole language” with practical application to the elementary classroom. New resource acquisition methods are included such as Internet navigation tools including World Wide Web “on-line” lesson plans, instructional strategies, teaching units and activity material. Students prepare lesson plans, teach lessons, and prepare unit plans. Appropriate actual classroom experiences are interwoven into the language arts subject areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Classroom management strategies, multicultural issues, and “Models of Teaching” are included. Pre-requisite: Admission to professional education. Fall, Spring

ELED 310 – Elementary Curriculum and Social Studies 2
A study of social studies in the elementary level using the expanding environments pattern. Students are exposed to social studies content that is concerned with developing reflective thinking skills and citizenship education within a global context and multiple disciplines. Appropriate teaching models and strategies are examined. This course allows students to experience preparing unit/lesson plans and other instructional materials at various grade levels. This course culminates with peer teaching and peer critiquing. Pre-requisite: Admission to professional education. Fall, Spring

ELED 321 – Kindergarten Curriculum, Methods, and Materials I 3
A study of early childhood education curriculum, methods, and instructional materials designed to meet the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor needs of young children. A thematic approach is used in forming concepts with emphasis on developmentally appropriate practices. Students get hands-on experiences in preparing a unit, lesson plans, learning center, and other instructional materials. Co-requisite: ELED 310 – Elementary Curriculum and Social Studies. Fall

ELED 322 – Kindergarten Curriculum, Methods, and Materials II 3
A continuation of ELED 321 – Kindergarten Curriculum, Methods, and Materials I including methods of assessment, guidance techniques, and discussion of current trends and issues relevant to early childhood education today. Students are required to conduct assessment techniques to kindergarten-age children. The course culminates with peer teaching and peer critiquing. Spring

ELED 383 – Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Disabilities 3
Students will experience the process of identifying a child’s reading deficiencies and planning instruction to correct his/her problems. Class sessions will be devoted to learning how to administer and interpret a wide variety of individual informal and formal assessment instruments and how to remediate the child’s identified needs. Appropriate instructional plans and materials will be developed, used, and organized into a resource file. Lab sessions consist of working directly with a child. The coursework will culminate in the student’s presentation of a case study. Pre-requisites: Admission to professional education, ELED 281 – Reading for the Elementary Teacher and ELED 282 – Reading Across the Curriculum and Content Reading, or consent of department chair and instructor. Spring

ELED 390M – Elementary Music Methods 3
Through many varied teaching projects the student will investigate the Dalcroze, Orff, Kodaly, and other current methodologies for teaching music in the elementary grades. All learning activities are experiential-based. Some field service is required. Junior standing and full admission to professional education. Alternate years

ELED 390P – Teaching Physical Education and Health in the Elementary School 3
The course serves as a precursor to pre-service teachers in elementary physical education. Areas covered include pedagogy, methodology, curriculum development, classroom observation, assessment, philosophy, reflective decision-making, and classroom management. This course also includes peer teaching and development of a unit plan. Fall, Spring

ELED 390S – Elementary Education Science Methods 3
Philosophy, methods, materials, and curricula for prospective elementary teachers with emphasis and importance of “hands-on” teaching of the natural sciences. Spring

ELED 398A – Pre-Professional Experience: Kindergarten 1
Working in close proximity to children, the pre-professional will work at instruction-related tasks. These responsibilities will be handled under the direct supervision of a professional classroom teacher, and many times, in concert with other auxiliary staff who may impact the classroom at the time of the assigned experience. Exposure to modern practices relative to kindergarten techniques and procedures is a major goal in the assignment. Co-requisite: ELED 321 – Kindergarten Curriculum, Methods, and Materials I S/U grading only. Fall, Spring

ELED 398B– Elementary Methods Block Field Experience 2
A course designed as an intensive field experience in an elementary classroom with specific responsibilities for lesson planning, execution and post-reflective evaluation. The experience is structures to use a specific lesson plan design, adopt teacher recommended lesson designs to deliver a minimum of nine lessons connected to elementary methods courses in the methods block, e.g., reading, mathematics, and language arts. Students must use a journal, lesson assessment procedures, and complete post-implementation reflection forms. Pre-requisite: Admission to professional education. S/U grading only. Fall, Spring

ELED 484 – Practicum in Reading 2
This course is a clinical experience in a school setting. The student will work daily with children who are experiencing difficulties in reading and submit final reports summarizing the diagnostic and remedial procedures completed. Pre-requisites: Admission to professional education, ELED 281 – Reading For the Elementary Teacher, ELED 282 – Reading Across the Curriculum and Content Reading, and ELED 383 – Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Disabilities, or by consent of department chair and instructor. Spring

ELED 491 – Elementary Education Seminar 1-6
This course is designed for the exploration of specific topics which are not covered in regularly scheduled course work. Requires approval by instructor and department chair. Pre-requisite: Admission to professional education.

ELED 498A – Teaching in the Elementary School 15
Fourteen-week block of supervised teaching in elementary grades. Pre-requisites: Admission to professional education and satisfactory completion of portfolio final review. S/U grading only. Fall, Spring

ELED 498B – Teaching in the Elementary School 7
Fourteen-week block of supervised teaching in kindergarten on a half-day basis. Pre-requisites: Admission to professional education and ELED 322 – Kindergarten Curriculum, Methods, and Materials II. S/U grading only. Fall, Spring

ELED 292, 492 – Experimental Course 1-4
A unique class, designed by the instructor and/or department, not currently listed in the University catalog. An experimental course may be offered for a maximum of two semesters. After that time, the course must be either assigned an appropriate, permanent course number and formally listed in the University catalog, or its usage must be discontinued.

ELED 293, 493 – Peer Tutoring 1-6
Students may earn credits by tutoring. Tutors are needed every semester in almost all academic areas. Interested students should contact Student Support Services. (Maximum eight credits may be applied to graduation.)

ELED 294, 494 – Independent Study, Undergraduate Research 1-6
INDEPENDENT STUDY: An individualized study not listed as a regular course in the University catalog. Content, etc., to be determined by instructor and student. Requires approval by instructor and department chair.. Pre-requisite: Admission to professional education.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH: Research topic must be approved prior to registration by instructor. Written analysis of research activities required at end of semester. Requires approval by instructor and department chair. Pre-requisite: Admission to professional education.

ELED 295, 495 – Service Learning 1-6
Credit may be granted for certain extra-curricular activities for which there is a direct connection and correlation between the activity and the academic objectives of a specific course in the University catalog. The appropriateness of the activity and subsequently awarding of academic credit will be at the discretion of the appropriate departmental chair.

ELED 296, 496 – Study Tours 1-6
Provides students the opportunity to make an extensive trip to a location either inside or outside the United States, which will subsequently provide the student with life experiences that relate directly to a specific academic discipline. Not available in all departments. Available at departmental and discipline discretion only.

ELED 299, 499 – Special Topics, Readings 1-6
SPECIAL TOPICS: A uniquely-designed advanced topics course within a specific discipline. Course content and other related academic requirements to be determined by the instructor. Requires approval by department chair.
READINGS: Readings in educational and various specific professional publications and journals related to a specific academic discipline. Requires approval by department chair.