This course examines the role and responsibility of the elementary educator as an advocate for, and educator of, students with diverse learning needs. Methods and structure to enable educators to understand, engage, and respond to the challenges presented within an academically diverse classroom are addressed. Special focus is given to research and applications for facilitating emergent literacies and social, emotional and behavioral development.

This course focuses on designing curriculum for inclusive and equitable settings for young children, birth through age 8. Classroom applications for constructivist theory in the areas of curriculum planning and implementation; issues of equity and diversity in curriculum and assessment; overview of research and theory related to teaching and learning of specific content areas, with emphasis on integrated approach to early childhood curriculum. Stresses the reciprocal nature of student-teacher relationship in the inclusive and equitable settings.

This course provides an introduction to research methods in education and the social sciences. Issues from a wide variety of perspectives on research are covered, including the formal procedures employed by experimental psychologists, qualitative perspectives, and techniques used by researchers involved in exploratory investigations in schools and other real-life settings. The design and implementation of research studies is contextualized in current educational and social science issues.

A two semester, full-time, supervised internship consisting of less-than-full-time teaching responsibility in selected educational settings and programs. Weekly seminars and occasional workshops held concurrently with internship. Special fee. Permission required. Cr/F.