Course Syllabus

Integrating the Content Areas I

 EDU4313 ~ Fall ~ 2007

 

Instructor: Mrs. Beth Davidson, M.ED.

Office: College Union, Room 207

Work Phone: 425-3267    Home Phone: 267-6901    School of Education: 425-3388

E-mail: davidson-b@lambuth.edu

Office Hours: MWF 9:00-11:00

                       TR 12:30-2:30

 

Class Meets: TR 9:25-10:40

                     CU220

 

Required Text: 

Gail Tompkins (2006).  Literacy for the 21st Century. Teaching Reading and Writing in Pre-K Through Grade 4. (4th Edition) Merrill-Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, N.J.

 

Course Description:

This course is designed to give a detailed theoretical and practical picture of the integration of the four language arts strands: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.  Emphasis will be placed on teaching these processes through literature and the content areas.  You will explore approaches, methods and materials to be used in helping children appreciate multicultural perspectives.

 

STANDARDS:

English Language Arts

  Standard 1:  Reading:  Candidates know, understand, and use appropriate practices for promoting and 

 developing beginning literacy skills, for integrating reading instruction across all subject matter areas, and

 for enabling all children to become proficient and motivated readers.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates know what is necessary for all children to learn to read, and they

    implement a balanced reading program.  Teacher candidates understand that children learn to read

    within the context of every subject and that explicit instruction in reading is needed throughout the

   elementary and middle grades.

1.1     Candidates understand how phonemes (speech sounds) are connected to print.

1.3     Candidates develop reading fluency in students at a rate that supports text comprehension.

1.4     Candidates understand the need for developing prior knowledge such as background information and vocabulary as aids to comprehension.

1.5     Candidates apply active comprehension strategies to help students to construct meaning from text.

1.6     Candidates understand the importance of developing and maintaining in students a motivation to read.

1.7     Candidates know and use the skills necessary for informational reading (reading to learn).

1.8     Candidates know and apply research-based teaching practices that enable children to become proficient and motivated readers.

1.9     Candidates know the Tennessee reading curriculum standards and incorporate that knowledge into their instruction.

1.10    Candidates develop expertise in explicit approaches to support student acquisition of phonemic awareness, fluency, reading comprehension, and study skills.

1.11    Candidates know how children develop literacy skills before formal instruction and how instruction should proceed in order to help all children learn to read and write.

1.12    Candidates provide experiences enabling children with diverse cultural and language backgrounds to become competent, independent readers.

 

1.13    Candidates know that assessments are used for a variety of purposes, including diagnosing of strengths and weaknesses (for planning, grouping, and designing individual programs), monitoring students’ progress and evaluating achievement.

1.14    Candidates understand the reciprocal nature of literacy elements:  reading, writing, and language elements.

  Standard 2:  Writing:  Candidates know, understand, and use the writing process for communication,

 expression, and reflection in all subject areas, for a variety of purposes, in a range of modes, and for

 multiple audiences.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates demonstrate a broad understanding of the uses of writing to

    communicate, to promote the dissemination of information, to generate, develop, and refine ideas, and to

    express individual voice.

2.1     Candidates understand and apply knowledge of the writing process.

2.2     Candidates know the state writing curriculum standards and incorporate that knowledge into their instruction.

2.3     Candidates write frequently for multiple purposes and in practical, occupational, personal, and academic modes.

2.4     Candidates evaluate written products and assess students’ progress both holistically and through the analysis of discrete elements.

2.6     Candidates acknowledge and respect the effect of cultural diversity and linguistic differences in the writing of students whose first language is not English.

2.7     Candidates understand the interactive relationship of language arts.

2.8     Candidates promote the integrating of literacy skills across all subject areas.

  Standard 3:  Elements of Language:  Candidates know and understand basic English usage, mechanics,

  spelling, grammar, and sentence structure as tools to facilitate the writing process.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates understand and use the rules and conventions governing the

   structure and syntax of language as prerequisites to effective communication and as markers of literacy.

3.1     Candidates recognize that effective instruction in the elements of language in integrated with and applied to the writing process.

3.2     Candidates demonstrate understanding of the parts of speech and their functions in sentences.

3.3     Candidates apply the standard rules of capitalization and punctuation, as well as legible handwriting, in written communication.

3.4     Candidates display a knowledge of the emerging stages of accurate spelling, including temporary spelling, and of phonemic awareness and structural analysis of words.

3.5     Candidates translate the knowledge of structure and mechanics into proofreading and editing of written language in all disciplines.

3.6     Candidates construct simple, compound, and complex sentences, using correct word order, subject-verb agreement, and correctly placed modifiers.

3.7     Candidates model effective oral and written communication skills.

3.8     Candidates design instruction appropriate to students of diverse backgrounds.

Mathematics

  Standard 4:  Geometry:  Candidates know, understand, and use geometric concepts and create learning

  experiences that develop geometric concepts and spatial reasoning in students.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates have an understanding of geometric concepts and relationships

    and can apply them in problem solving situations.  They also demonstrate knowledge of effective

    instructional practices necessary for developing geometric proficiency in students.

4.2     Candidates specify locations and explain spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems.

Science

  Standard 1:  Elements of Effective Science Instruction:  Candidates demonstrate understanding of science

  and technology in daily life through the use of inquiry-based, open-minded, and materials-based

  investigation, incorporating habits of mind and pedagogical techniques required to deliver the content in a

  safe environment.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates know, understand and use strategies and pedagogy to enhance

    science instruction for all students.

1.4     Candidates show the interrelationships among the various science disciplines, literacy, mathematics, and social sciences.

1.7     Candidates plan lessons and units that incorporate a learning cycle-engagement, exploration, explanation, extension and evaluation – and safe management of materials.

Social Studies

  Standard 1:  Social Studies Process:  Candidates use effective instructional strategies that integrate social

  studies content and knowledge.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates recognize how culture; economics; geography; governance and

    civics; history; and individuals, groups and interactions impact the various elements of the Tennessee

    curriculum:  local communities, world communities, American history from its beginning to the present

    and early world civilizations.  Candidates understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to

    encourage the development of critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills in students.

1.1     Candidates assist students in acquiring information through locating, gathering, observing, comprehending, organizing, and processing information from a variety of primary and secondary sources.

1.3  Candidates model the problem solving process involving comprehension, analysis, and data

        interpretation that lead to a solution or conclusion

1.4     Candidates use communication to convey ideas through individual expression, group dialogue, cultural communities, and global networks using oral, written, symbolic, visual and technological means.

1.5     Candidates relate an understanding of chronological placement, historical trends, and historical decision-making that is integral to all of the social studies disciplines.

1.6     Candidates analyze historical data to prioritize events, identify bias, recognize perspectives, interpret trends, and predict outcomes.

  Standard 2:  Culture:  Candidates understand and demonstrate appreciation of the variety of human

  cultures.  Candidates recognize the contributions of individuals and people of various ethnic, racial,

  religious and socioeconomic groups to the development of communities and civilizations.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates explore different elements of societies to help develop their

    students’ appreciation of and respect for the variety of human cultures.  Candidates recognize the 

    contributions of individuals and people of various ethnic, racial, religious, and socioeconomic groups to

    the development of communities and civilizations.

2.1     Candidates explore different elements of societies to help develop their students’ appreciation of and respect for the variety of human cultures.

2.2     Candidates recognize the contributions of individuals and people of various ethnic, racial, religious and socioeconomic groups to the development of communities and civilizations.

  Standard 3:  Economics:  Candidates understand basic economic concepts and recognize the effects of

  globalization, population, growth, technological changes and international competition on production,

  distribution and consumption of goods and services.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates create learning experiences to help students contrast basic needs

    versus wants and using versus saving money.  Candidates assist students in understanding economic

    decision making on a personal and global level.

3.1     Candidates create learning experiences to help students contrast basic needs versus saving money.

3.2     Candidates assist students in understanding economic decision making.

  Standard 4:  Geography:  Candidates use knowledge of geography to explain the web of relationships  

  among people, places, and environments.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates integrate the six essential elements of geography in their teaching: 

    the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and

    society, and use of geography.  Candidates prepare a balanced approach to the teaching of social

    studies, including both cultural and physical geography.

4.1     Candidates integrate the six essential elements of geography in their teaching:  the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, and use of geography.

4.2     Candidates prepare a balanced approach to the teaching of social studies, including both cultural and physical geography.

  Standard 5:  Governance and Civics:  Candidates understand the concepts of governance and civics

  

 

     Supporting Explanation:  Candidates convey the structure and purpose of governance in a democracy in

     language that is meaningful and appropriate for students.  Candidates demonstrate an understanding of

     individual rights and responsibilities, including ethical behaviors, and the role of citizens.

5.1     Candidates convey the structure and purpose of governance in a democracy in language that is meaningful and appropriate for students.

5.2     Candidates demonstrate an understanding of individual rights and responsibilities, including ethical behaviors, and the role of citizens within their community, nation, and world.

  Standard 6:  History:  Candidates understand the importance of history and its relationship to informed 

  decisions in contempory life.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates understand the place of historical events in the context of past,

     present, and future.  Candidates construct sound historical arguments and perspectives on which  

    informed decisions in contemporary life can be based.  Candidates evaluate evidence, including primary

    sources, to develop comparative and causal analysis.

6.1     Candidates understand the place of historical events in the context of past, present, and future.

6.2    Candidates construct sound historical arguments and perspectives on which informed decisions in contemporary life can be based.

6.3    Candidates evaluate evidence, including primary sources to develop comparative and causal analysis.   

  Standard 7:  Individuals, Groups, and Interactions:  Candidates understand that personal development and

  identity are shaped by factors including culture, groups, and institutions and highlight the exploration,

  identification, and analysis of how individuals and groups work independently and cooperatively.

    Supporting Explanation:  Candidates describe the responsibilities that individuals have both to

    themselves and the group to which they belong.  Candidates convey how interactions between

    individuals and groups can influence communities and the individuals therein.  Candidates assist

    students in understanding how groups can impact change at the local, state, national, and international

    levels

7.2     Candidates convey how interactions between individuals and groups can influence

        communities and the individuals therein

7.3     Candidates assist students in understanding how groups can impact change and the local, state, national, and international levels.

.

 

 

~ Course Policies ~

 

Attendance

Students should attend classes to actively participate in group discussion and collaborative assignments.  After two unexcused absences, the final grade will be lowered by one grade level.  Three tardies equal one unexcused absence. Excused absences are those excused by Lambuth University for school-related events or illnesses.

 

Students

This course is exclusively designed for students registered through the university.  Therefore, children are not permitted to be present in scheduled classes.  As an instructor, I purport to provide a stimulating learning environment.  This cannot be achieved with children present and does not emulate the design of a college level course.  Additionally, children can not be left unattended.

 

 

 

 

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is copying from another’s published or unpublished works without permission, or using another’s words without giving credit to the author.  Plagiarism is illegal by the State’s standards, and unethical according to the academic standards of Lambuth University.  Copying and/or any indication that a student has not done his/her own work in class, on papers, reports, and presentations will merit an automatic “F” on the assignment for both the person who copies and the person from whom the work is copied.

 

Academic Honesty

Cheating in any form will mean automatic “0” on the assignment/exam, and the Academic Dean will be informed.  A second incidence of cheating will result the failure of this course.  Dishonesty about observation hour totals, ‘faking’ visits, or using another’s time as your own will be treated as a cheating offense.

 

Confidentiality

The student will protect the right to privacy of all children and families observed in the classroom or elsewhere.  No reference should be made to them in any way that would identify them to another person.  All information about students, their families, or problems are considered confidential and not to be revealed to anyone without the consent of the parent.  Please use first names only.

 

American  Disabilities Act

Lambuth University is committed to making every reasonable accommodation to assist any student with a documented disability meet the requirements expected of all students enrolled in this course. Students who have special needs or disabilities that may affect their ability to access information and/or material presented in this course should contact the instructor.

 

Liability Insurance

 Each student taking this course will be required to carry liability insurance for individual protection during observations and other work in schools or clinics. Liability insurance may be obtained at minimum cost through membership in the Student Tennessee Education Association (STEA). This must be done prior to your receiving your observation placement.

 

Please silence all cell phones and beepers during class.

 

All papers should be typed with a cover sheet and neatly

 presented to the professor unless otherwise indicated.

 

 

Grading Scale

100 -- 95% A

94-87% B

86-80% C

79-73% D

 

Class Participation ____/50

Observation Packet ____/150

Chapter Outlines ____/100

Examinations ___/100 ___/100 ___/100 ___/100

Reading Newsletter ____/100

Reading Lesson _____/100

Semantic Map _____/150

Reading Activities _____/400

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


~ Course Requirements ~

 

1.       Class Attendance/Participation (50 points). Materials and activities presented in this course are designed to enhance your development as an educational leader. Students pursuing the teaching profession are mature enough to take the responsibility of facilitating the acceptable completion of course requirements and for judging the role of class attendance in meeting this goal.

 

2.       Observations (150 points). EDU4313 requires 10 observation hours in a K-3 classroom.  As you observe, you are to complete the observation packet located in the Teacher Education Program Handbook.  You will need to make copies of this packet because you will use this same observation packet in other classes.   Observation packets are due November 29th.

 

3.       Chapter Outlines/Summaries/Graphic Organizers. (100 points – total of 12 – you will be required to turn in 10)  You will submit a critique/summary/outline/ or graphic organizer for the assigned readings that are listed in the syllabus each class period.

 

4.       Reading Newsletter (100 points) This will be a group project.  Each group will be responsible for designing a newsletter for parents regarding reading.  Your newsletter needs to be information; yet, eye-catching.

 

5.       Examinations (400points).  There will be four examinations. The tests will be worth 100 points each and consists of short answer, multiple choice, and essay questions from the text.  See syllabus schedule for the dates of review and tests.

 

6.       Social Studies Semantic Mapping with Goals and Objectives (150 points).  Semantic mapping will assist in thematic grade level planning. You will develop this map from a Social Studies standard, choosing your own grade level. All items should be neatly organized and typed.  A rubric will be given for this activity.

      Include the following in your Semantic Map Packet:

a.       Concepts and specific ideas under each concept. 

b.       References, handouts, games, activities, or any ideas that would assist in teaching these concepts. 

c.       The Tennessee State goals and objectives that this theme would meet.

d.       Other content areas that the semantic mapping reaches.

e.       How the activities relate to Gardner’s eight intelligences.  

f.        Why this theme is developmentally appropriate.

 

7.        Reading Activities (400 points).

1.       Develop a sight word card file. Divide the cards into pre-primer, primer, first, second, and third grades. Develop an alphabet card file with upper and lower case letters.

2.       You will create a bound copy of environmental print.  Your book should be at least ten pages in length with one piece of environmental print per page.  Your book does not have to tell a story, but each page should contain at least one sentence of print.

 

 

 

 

3.       In a group you will create a word wall.  Your word wall will be displayed on a bulletin board.  Your word wall will need to have a theme. Ex. Based on a trade book, basal reader, sight words.  Your wall will need to have at least 20 words.  You will need to include an index card on your board indicating the grade level and the rationale for why your group chose those particular words.

4.       Literacy Center-this will be a literature based language arts center. Your center will be displayed using a tri-fold board in the curriculum lab and three language arts activities.  One activity will be hands-on, one activity will be you reading a children’s book on tape, and the last activity will be one of your choice.  All of your activities and the appearance of your center should be centered around the children’s book that you choose to put on tape.

 

8.       Reading Lesson Plan (100 points). You will be responsible for writing a lesson plan following the Lambuth University Lesson Plan format.  .  I will observe you and grade your lesson plan based on you following the Lambuth Lesson Plan format.  If you are able you will teach this lesson in a classroom in the public school system.  If you are unable to teach a reading lesson, then you write an additional lesson that you will teach.

 

 

 

Tentative Schedule

EDU 4313

 

Thursday, August 23                  Review of Syllabus

                                                Review of Teacher Portfolios / Praxis Information

                                                Review of Observation Packet

                                                Sign-up for observation placements                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

Week 1

T- August 28                 Bloom and Gardner

Lesson Plan Guidelines

 

R- August 30                Chapter 1:  Becoming an Effective Teacher of Reading

                                    Chapter Summary/Outline/Graphic Organizer

 

 

Week 2                     

T- September 4             Chapter 2: Teaching the Reading and Writing Process

                                    Chapter Summary/Outline/Graphic Organizer

 

R- September 6             Wrap-up Chapters 1-2

 

 

 

Week 3                      

T- September 11           Test #1 (Chapters 1-2)

 

R- September 13           Chapter 3:  Working with Young Readers and Writers

                                    Chapter Summary/Outline/Graphic Organizer

           

 

Week 4                      

T- September 18           Chapter 4:  Cracking the Alphabetic Code

                                    Chapter Summary/Outline/Graphic Organizer

 

R- September 20           Chapter 5:  Developing Fluent Readers and Writers

                                    Chapter Summary/Outline/Graphic Organizer

Sight Word Card File Due

 

 

Week 5                      

T- September 25           Chapter 6:  Expanding Student’s Knowledge of Words

                                    Chapter Summary/Outline/Graphic Organizer

 

R- September 27           Test #2 (Chapters 3-6)

 

 

 

Week 6                      

T- October 2                 Social Studies in the Classroom

 

R- October 4                 Social Studies in the Classroom

                                    Environmental Print Due

 

 

Week 7

T- October 9                 Social Studies in the Classroom

                                   

R- October 11               What is a Semantic Map?

Word Walls Due

 

Week 8                      

T- October 16               Fall Break

 

R- October 18               Chapter 7and 8:  Facilitating Students Comprehension

                                    2 Chapter Summaries/Outlines/Graphic Organizers

 

                                   

Week 9          

T- October 23               Literacy Center Presentations

 

R- October 25               Literacy Center Presentations          

 

 

 

Week 10                    

T- October 30               Integrated I:  Workshop

 

R- November 1             Chapter 9:  Assessing Student’s Literacy Development

                                    Chapter Summary/Outline/Graphic Organizer

                                   

 

Week 11

T- November 6             Test #3 (Chapters 7-9)

 

R- November 8             Chapter 10:  Teaching with Basal Reading Textbooks

                                    Chapter Summary/Outline/Graphic Organizer

Semantic Map