An elective course designed to help students develop an understanding of the reading process in the major subject areas. Specific literacy strategies, study skills and reference techniques used in various subjects are investigated. Offered in fall. Prereq: ENGL 110 and Admission to Advanced Professional Studies (APS)

Prepares middle level teacher candidates to recognize high-quality literature for youth from age 10 to 14. Grounded in adolescent psychology, it guides teacher candidates in the identification of literature, across genres and content areas, that is relevant to the lives of adolescents. The course engages teacher candidates in collaborative approaches to literature study, modeling best practices for the instruction of adolescents. Response to literature receives emphasis. Offered annually. Prereq: PSYC 227.

Develops pedagogy in the teaching of reading and the related language arts in grades 4-8. Keeping with current theory that the communication processes—reading, writing, listening and speaking—cannot arbitrarily be divided, this course will present pedagogy in an interrelated and integrated format. Understandings, teaching strategies and techniques will be consistent with the state testing system and the state standards for literacy instruction. Throughout this course, students will be expected to exhibit professional behaviors. Offered fall, spring. Prereq: admission to Advanced Professional Studies.

In this course, teacher candidates will apply the standards and thematic strands of social studies as defined by the National Council for the Social Studies for middle level learners (Grades 4-8). Emphasis is on the learner building civil competence and acquiring knowledge, skills, and attitudes in civics and government, economics, history, and geography.

Pedagogy for teaching middle level mathematics is aligned with national and state standards, current research, forms of assessment and curricular frameworks. Technology and hands-on instructional strategies are utilized. Prereq: MATH 205, MATH 230 and admission to Advanced Professional Studies. Coreq: MDLV 425, 466, SPED 331.

Focuses on the teaching of science through inquiry in the middle grades. Inquiry based strategies stress evidence based argumentation, experimentation, and the building of student understanding of the nature of science through active involvement. Prereq: ENGL 110, admission to Advanced Professional Studies. Coreq: MDLV 425, 456, SPED 331.

Prepares teacher candidates to understand cross-cultural and linguistic foundations of acquiring a new language. Teacher candidates will apply research-based strategies for providing English language learners (ELLs) with optimal learning environments that provide meaningful access to standards-based instruction in grades 4-8. This course places a special emphasis on instructional planning that facilitates student success with academic language and academic texts in upper-elementary settings. Candidates will demonstrate the ability to use assessment data to differentiate and modify instruction. Candidates will also demonstrate an understanding of schools’ legal responsibilities toward ELLs and their families. Offered in fall. Prereq: COMM 100, ENGL 110 and admission to Advanced Professional Studies.