Education: Childhood Minor

The nature of physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and moral development from birth through early adolescence, with implications for early intervention, early childhood education, and elementary school classroom teaching; integration of theory and research findings from the fields of developmental psychology and educational psychology. During the second half of the semester, students in the early childhood track and students in the childhood track direct their projects and papers to the study of the respective developmental levels of their programs. Prerequisites: None.

The developmental context to current approaches to teaching reading; creation of language-rich environments; organization of a functional reading program; informational and critical reading; assessment of reading and language skills; oral and written communication; approaches to work with English language learners and students with special needs; and attention to motivational factors in literacy development at home as well as at school. Pre- or co-requisite: EDUN 201.

The developmental context for a problem-solving approach to mathematics, science, and technology instruction and remediation; developmentallyappropriate curriculum development and methods of teaching and remediation in mathematics, science, and technology; emphasis on manipulative materials and hands-on activities; application of mathematical concepts and skills in the study of science; application of mathematical concepts and skills and scientific concepts in real-life settings; and appreciation of the benefits, promise, and hazards of technology. Pre- or corequisite: EDUN 201.

Students examine basic computer topics and terminology, with a special emphasis on electronic information retrieval, as they explore ways to apply information retrieval technology to teaching the various academic disciplines. To this end, computer hardware and software are discussed, along with personal computer applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Internet topics, such as advanced search techniques, constructing deep searches, finding specialty information, newsgroups and mailing lists, are examined in detail. A capstone project is the preparation of a research project, which should use both traditional as well as electronic methods of research. This course is not a required course or approved elective for a Computer Science or MIS degree. Prerequisite: None. For Education majors.

The developmental context to understanding the symptoms and causes of reading disabilities; use and interpretation of achievement tests and diagnostic instruments; materials and methods used in remedial instruction; and preparation of teacher-made reading materials. Work with children and writing of case studies are required components of field experience. During the second half of the semester, a reading lab is conducted where community children come to TC to be tutored by the 302 students, supervised by the course instructor. TC students can then actually implement the skills they learned in the course. Prerequisite: EDUN 301.

The social and developmental contexts for teaching social studies spectrum subjects to a diverse elementary school student population; curriculum development and methods and materials; development of integrated instruction in history and geography (including history and geography of the United States and New York State), economics, citizenship and government, and the world of work; appreciation of the diversity of social life, including language, across cultures; approaches to linking instruction to the context of students’ lives. Pre- or co-requisite: EDUN 201.

The cognitive, emotional, and social contexts for exploring various art forms, including performing arts, movement, sports activities and other areas of physical education; discovering and building on individual interests and creative abilities; creating developmentally-appropriate opportunities for self-expression and self-exploration; cooperation in group art and sports activities; the relationship of the arts and physical education to other curricula areas. Pre- or corequisite: EDUN 201.

Review of state and citywide curriculum for elementary school children. Concepts and skills in the teaching of reading, math, language arts, social studies, and science. Modification of instructional methods and materials for children with disabilities. Demonstration lessons will be used to highlight principles of development and modification of curriculum for elementary school children with disabilities. Prerequisites: EDUN 301 and EDUN 303 or EDUN 304.

Setting up the physical environment of the classroom to maximize learning productivity and prevent unnecessary behavior problems. Review of different models of intervention approaches for handling difficult behavior in the elementary school. The teacher’s role in reducing conflicts, teaching social skills, and facilitating cooperative group living. The importance of the teacher’s self-awareness in teacher-student interaction. Critical incidents will be used to develop specific guidelines for effective teacher interventions. Prerequisites: EDUN 301 and EDUN 303 or EDUN 304.

Explores the historical and philosophical underpinnings of modern educational theory and practice, dating back to ancient Greek, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim writings on education and tracking developments into the present. It specifically examines the forces that have shaped educational policies in the United States, highlighting the current debate around meeting the educational and social-emotional needs of students from diverse communities. The role of technology in education and society at large, critical thinking skills, information literacy, and research-based instruction are also featured. Prerequisite: approval.