Secondary Education Minor

Focusing on the study of culture as it relates to one's identity, the student analyzes how one's culture impacts learning. Students examine the ESOL Consent Decree, discuss stereotyping, and learn ways to facilitate communication between cultures. In addition, societal issues that affect schools are investigated. Emphasis is placed on preventive measures and solutions to these issues.

This is the capstone academic course for the teacher education program. The course provides the student with the knowledge of the organization of the education system and its impact on curriculum, its historical antecedents and influence on democratic values, and the major philosophies and their impact on educational decisions, including character education. Finance issues, current issues/trends in structures and policies, and legal rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, including ethical responsibilities, are also included.

Students will examine current research and instructional approaches that focus on improving adolescent literacy skills. The course is designed to address literacy issues in content area classrooms at the secondary school level. Students will learn about the reading process, identify reading demands in content areas, develop instructional activities to improve reading, and use reading/writing/thinking activities in daily instruction. Field experience is required. Offered spring semester on University Campus.

Emphasis is placed on adolescent development and learning theories, linking to practices in the classroom. Special attention will be given to the diverse secondary education population (ESOL, special education, multicultural, at-risk, etc.) in preparation for planning responsive standards-based instruction.

This course offers a broad and critical analysis of classroom management issues, including the major theories regarding understanding and managing student behavior, discussion of effective classroom rules and procedures, school safety, parental involvement, legal issues related to the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and the strategies for creating a positive, safe environment to meet the needs of all students, including English language learners. A field experience is required.

This senior-level course builds on assessment introduced in earlier methods and practica. Topics include basic concepts in statistical analysis for teachers, traditional norm and criterion-referenced assessment measures and test construction, performance assessment tasks and rubrics, reliability, validity, bias, and the current political issues in testing. Testing issues, test analysis, and strategies for English language learners are infused in the topics and expectations.

This one-credit practicum and one-credit seminar accompany the methods for teaching in the discipline methods courses, EDU 451, 452, 453, and 454, and EDU 336: Teaching Reading in the Content Areas. Students are required to spend one full day or two half days (approx. 7.5 hours) per week in a middle or secondary school classroom of their discipline under the guidance of a clinically trained mentor-teacher and supervised by a University supervisor. They are expected to help with all aspects of a typical classroom and teach lessons as appropriate to their readiness and course requirements. Placement and supervision will be arranged through the field placement officer at University Campus or the Center. The one-credit seminar (EDU 455) connects the knowledge base gained during coursework with the experiences of the one-credit practicum (EDU 450). EDU 450 is a pass/fail course.

This course explores the methods and challenges of teaching the English language arts in grades 5-12. Topics include lesson planning, the Florida Curriculum Framework, Sunshine State Standards, student-centered classrooms, fostering positive classroom communities, strategies for developing lifelong readers, facilitating class discussions, questioning strategies, authentic assessment, technological resources for middle school teachers, and reflective practice. Students will implement the lessons created in class while in the practicum (EDU 450)

This course explores the methods and problems in the teaching of mathematics in grades 5-12. Students will learn innovative ways of instruction for teaching middle school students. They will learn the standards of curriculum as listed in the Principals and Standards for School Mathematics as well as the requirements listed in the Sunshine State Standards for Florida. Students will learn how to plan and implement lessons for a diverse classroom with a focus on using manipulatives. Accommodations and applications for teaching math content to English language learners are also included. The student will implement the lessons created in class while in the practicum (EDU 450).

This course explores the methods and problems in the teaching of science in grades 5-12. Students will learn innovative ways of instruction in the biological, earth, and physical sciences for teaching middle/secondary school students. They will practice state teacher certification standards as well as the knowledge defined by the Sunshine State Standards for Florida grades 5-12 students. Students will learn how to plan and implement lessons for a diverse classroom with a focus on using inquiry-based learning. Students will implement the lessons created in class while in the practicum (EDU 450).

This course focuses on the knowledge defined by the Sunshine State Standards in history, geography, government, and economics, and pro-social and multicultural education for grades 5-9. Students also apply knowledge of ESOL Standards and Accomplished Practices as they write and teach lessons and create a matrix and calendar for a multicultural/social studies thematic unit. Students will implement the lessons created in class while in the practicum (EDU 450).

This two-credit seminar and one-credit practicum provide students with opportunities to further explore teaching strategies and methods as well as to gain more experience in real-world classrooms. Students engage in seminar discussions based on their observations and experiences in their practicum placement. Students engage in the reflective-action process as a basis for professional growth and development. Emphasis will be placed on planning effective lessons and meeting the needs of diverse learners. English specialization middle grades majors will be assigned to a field placement where they work with ESOL students and are under the supervision of an ESOL-endorsed teacher. The practicum, EDU 470, is a pass/fail course.