Course: SPED 541B. Getting Started–Introduction to Teaching in Urban Schools (2)
Prerequisites: Restricted to candidates admitted to the Accelerated Collaborative Teacher (ACT) Residency Program. Corequisites: Multiple Subject Credential Candidates: ELPS 541A; EPC 500 or EED 500; EED 515, EED 520, EED 565M, EED 577, EED 559C, EED 567ACT. Single Subject Credential Candidates: ELPS 541A; EPC 420; SED 511, SED 514, SED 525XX, SED 554/S. Special Education Credential Candidates in MME: ELPS 541A; SPED 402, SPED 406, SPED 407, SPED 511, SPED 579ACT; EED 565M or SED 525XX. This course is the first of two core courses in the ACT Program for elementary, secondary, and special education teacher candidates. Taught collaboratively by a team of university and school faculty, the course is an introduction to teaching and learning in the context of K-12 urban schools, with an emphasis on educational equity, diversity, and special populations. Topics include an introduction to the roles and responsibilities of a professional educator; teachers’ and students’ backgrounds and how they impact teaching and learning in urban schools; knowledge of relevant federal and state legislation for students with disabilities; differentiated instruction that is universally accessible to all learners; accommodations and modifications to grade-level instruction in order to meet students’ individual needs, and collaboration with school professionals and families. Teacher candidates are provided activities and discussions that emphasize the links between theory and practice. (Offered in Fall semester only.)