Curriculum

This course is designed to explore classroom management practices in educational settings. The course is taken concurrently with an education practicum so students will be able to observe and implement the techniques of practicing teachers in the areas of behavior modification, social skills training, and classroom management structures.

Presents comprehensive and balanced coverage of all aspects of assessment relevant to classroom teachers. Students learn to construct and use paper-and-pencil, alternative, and standardized assessments; analyze objectives; use grading systems; and judge assessment quality.

This course offers a hands-on practical approach that introduces students to a variety of strategies they can directly implement upon entering a position as a middle school and high school teacher of science. Concentrating on practical application rather than theoretical implications, students will refine and add to their repertoire of teaching strategies. Students will be engaged in the direct completion of project-based learning in the form of laboratory experiences, lesson building, and cooperative tasks.

Prepares classroom teachers to successfully educate students with disabilities within the regular classroom setting. While the primary focus is to manage the instructional requirements of students with disabilities, the course incorporates the legal and ethical standards for mainstreaming and the roles of parent advocacy and support groups. Additionally, students become familiar with instructional issues represented by students from culturally, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse populations. Course content also explores the importance of enhancing educational opportunities of diverse learners via procedural due process, diagnostic practices, and development of professional and parent collaboration.

This practical experience is divided into two parts, student teaching and seminar in teaching. Student teaching provides all education students with the opportunity to practice the art and science of teaching in a structured setting with guidance and supervision. Also provides students with appropriate feedback in curriculum organization, lesson plan development, assessment, and classroom management strategies. The Student Handbook's policies and procedures must be followed and honored during this time by students, preceptors, and college supervisors. The second part is the capstone experience. This experience affords students the opportunity for self-reflection and self-assessment of personal knowledge, skills and attitude in preparation for a teaching career. While completing student teaching assignments in schools, students accumulate a wealth of experience shared with peers in a supportive setting. Students are videotaped once during their student teaching placement. The course instructor and peers then provide appropriate feedback regarding curriculum organization, lesson planning, assessment, communication skills, and management strategies. The comprehensive portfolios are also carefully assessed and discussed. This section of the course embraces the thirteen guiding principles stated in the Student Handbook, the Maine Learning Results, and the ten Maine Standards for Results-based Initial Teacher Certification from the State Board of Education.