Specialty Courses

The final course of the program, Teacher as Everyday Hero, is a culmination of many strands covered throughout the degree. This course strikes a balance between the macro-and micro-concepts of teaching. Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate how they are no longer just surviving as teachers but thriving as teacher leaders. Throughout Teacher as Everyday Hero, participants examine case studies of truly inspirational teachers who have transformed the lives of their students. Through the use of biographies, narratives, profiles and interviews with top educators and scholars, participants explore and reflect on the problems and satisfactions of teaching, which culminates in the writing of their personal teacher story.

Based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, this course establishes a foundation of mathematical content knowledge and problem-solving skills. Participants develop deeper understanding of mathematical concepts they are required to teach and engage in mathematical discourse as a means to explain their thinking and share strategies.

Covering the Van Hiele levels of geometric thought and focusing on shapes and properties, transformations, location and visualization, as well as measurement concepts and skills, this course allows teachers to develop a profound understanding of key mathematical concepts as outlined in the NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. Participants engage in hands-on problem-solving activities that allow them to apply new understanding to their instructional planning and decision making.

This course focuses on developing algebraic thinking, which includes studying patterns and functions, understanding the structure of the number system, using symbolism meaningfully and using mathematical modeling to solve problems. Participants study many common misconceptions about the learning of algebra to better understand the potential gaps in students’ understanding.

This course provides teachers with a comprehensive knowledge base in the reading process and facility with the most effective instructional and assessment techniques. Based on research with internationally recognized reading specialists, this course enables participants to identify effective theories and principles for teaching reading in the five major components of the reading process — literacy, phonemic awareness and phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension — and to apply the most effective instructional plans, methods and resources in their practice. In addition, the course focuses on methods for assessing reading progress in individuals and groups and ideas for differentiating instruction for diverse learners.

This course focuses on ways to integrate effective reading strategies into all subject areas of the curriculum. Participants learn strategies for supporting the comprehension of nonfiction texts and the development of content-area vocabulary, as well as motivational techniques for reluctant learners.