Master of Arts in Elementary Education K-6

Stresses educational research and best practices in teaching strategies. Throughout the program, students will practice incorporating critical thinking skills, cooperative learning strategies, state standards, and technology into reading, math, science, and social students curriculum areas. Students will have the opportunity to create products and complete activities that apply research into practice. Course assignments are designed to foster analysis of real world educational settings. The practicum experience in this online program does not require articulation agreements between school districts of other educational entities, but is a collaborative effort between the educational administrator, the graduate student, and the practicum professor through phone and online conferences.

Program Objectives:

Examine scientific inquiry as a teaching method

Recognize and put into practice appropriate methodology and instructional strategies to teach mathematics content K-6.

Differentiate math instruction to meet the readiness levels and learning styles of the students

Organize and administer effective corrective instruction to individuals, small groups or whole class

Design appropriate curriculum integration projects for K-8 literacy learners.

Demonstrate researched supported methods of instructing for language and reading fluency with ESOL students

Demonstrate researched supported methods of scaffolding for reading fluency

Organize literacy classrooms for optimum literacy growth and achievement

Understand and explain the theoretical and research basis for using technology to increase the knowledge base for social studies and content literacy skills for students K-8 grades

Required Courses

ED 626 Curriculum Design and Instruction - This course includes a proctored exam

ED 665 Integrating Technology in the Classroom

RED 620 Emergent Literacy Development: Pre K- Grade 3

RED 621 Teaching Elementary Reading Grades 1 - 6

RED 625 Linguistically Diverse Students (ESOL, Dialect speakers and beyond)

RED 626 Diagnosis and Remediation in Reading

ELE 640 Research Based Practices for Elementary Social Studies Instruction

ELE 641 Research Based Practices for Elementary Science Instruction

ELE 642 Research Based Practices for Elementary Math Instruction

ELE 643 Diagnosis and Remediation in Mathematics

ELE 644 Teaching Language Arts - This course includes a proctored exam

Electives: Select one of the following courses

RED 627 Integrating Technology in Reading and Language Arts Classroom K-8

ED 627 Engaging Students in Critical Thinking

ED 609 Preparing for the National Board and Beyond

ED 611 Reaching Today's Students

Book List

ED 609: Preparing for the National Board and Beyond

Adrienne Mack-Kirschner. (2003). Teacher’s Guide to National Board Certification: Unpacking the Standards. Heinemann.

ISBN: 0-325-00549-4

Adrienne Mack-Kirschner. (2005). The National Board Certification Workbook: How to Prepare Your Portfolio 2^nd Ed. Heinemann.

ISBN: 0-325-00787-X

ED 611: Reaching Today’s Students

Larry K. Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, & Steven VanBockern, National Education Service, (1998). Reclaiming Youth at Risk. Solution Tree. ISBN: 1879639866

ED 626: Curriculum Design and Instruction

Larry K. Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, & Steven VanBockern, National Education Service, (1998). Reclaiming Youth at Risk. Solution Tree. ISBN: 1879639866

ED 627: Engaging Students in Critical Thinking

Arthur L. Costa. 3^rd.Ed.(20001).Developing Minds: Resource Book for Teaching Thinking. Assoc. for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

ISBN: 0871203790

ED 665: Integrating Technology in the Classroom

The George Lucas Educational Foundation. (2002). Edutopia: Success Stories for Learning in the Digital Age. Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 0787960829

ELE 640: Research Based Practices for Elementary Social Studies Instruction

James Zarillio.(2007). Teaching Elementary Social Studies. Merrill Education/Prentice Hall.

ISBN: 0136133916

ELE 641: Research Based Practices for Elementary Science Instruction

National Research Council. (1996) National Science Education Standards. National Academy Press.

ISBN: 0309053269

ELE 642: Research Based Practices for Elementary Math Instruction

Tom Bassarear. 4^th Ed. (2008). Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

ISBN: 061876836X

Kathy Checkley. (2006). Priorities in Practice: The Essentials of Mathematics K-6: Effective Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. Assoc. for Supervision & Curriculum Development.

ISBN: 1416603697

ELE 643: Diagnosis and Remediation in Mathematics

Andrea N, Guillaume. (2005). Classroom Mathematics Inventory for Grades K-6, With 25 Cards. Allyn & Bacon, Inc.

ISBN: 0205464564

Helene J. Sherman. 2^nd Ed. (2009).Teaching Learners Who Struggle with Mathematics. Merrill Education/Prentice Hall.

ISBN: 0136135773

ELE 644: Teaching Language Arts

Marjorie H. Hancock. (2007). Language Arts: Extending the Possibilities-with CD. Prentice Hall, Inc.

ISBN: 0132388715

RED 620: Emergent Literacy Development: Pre K-Grade 3

Lea McGee & Donald Richgels. 5^th Ed. (2008). Literacy’s Beginnings: Supporting Young Readers and Writers. Allyn & Bacon, Inc.

ISBN: 0205533361

RED 621: Teaching Elementary Reading Grades 1 – 6

Ray D. Reutzel. (2008). Teaching Children to Read – with CD, 5th Ed. Merrill Education/Prentice Hall.

ISBN: 01350008360

RED 625: Linguistically Diverse Students (ESOL)

Carol Rothenberg & Doug Fisher. (2007). Teaching English Language Learners: Differentiated Approach. Prentice Hall Inc..

ISBN: 0131704397

RED 626: Diagnosis and Remediation in Reading

Ray D. Reutzel and Robert B. Cooter. 3^rd Ed. (2006). Strategies for Reading Assessment and Instruction. Merrill Education/Prentice Hall.

ISBN: 0131999672

RED 627: Integrating Technology in Reading Language Classrooms K-8

Rebecca Anderson, Michael Grant & Bruce Speck. 2^nd Ed. (2008). Technology to Teach Literacy: Resource for K-8 Teachers. Merrill Education/Prentice Hall

ISBN: 0131989758