Education for Certified Teachers MA: Teacher of Students with Disabilities

EDUC6702 Students will study and analyze the historic and philosophic roots of contemporary curriculum theory and development. New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and alignment will be addressed in this course, and the implication on New Jersey Administrative Code requirements on program, assessment and graduation requirements.

EDUC6703 Students will study and analyze the various models of supervision and evaluation with a special emphasis on the development of the skills necessary to promote effective instruction of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in the classroom. Formative and summative staff evaluation strategies as well as effective coaching and mentoring techniques necessary for success in a diverse school community will be investigated. The implication of the New Jersey Administration Code requirements on professional behavior, SLO'S, SGP'S PARCC testing, and schoolwide improvement of program and state assessment of pupil performance will be reviewed.

EDUC6704 Students will examine current research on educational change and collaborative strategies for increasing communication and engaging stakeholders in the change process. A primary focus of the course is to provide students with the skills needed in assessing the school culture, developing a vision and plan for school improvement. The course will focus on several change models and strategies, strategic planning, and the communication of the change process within the learning community.

EDUC6718 This course focuses on basic measurement concepts, the role of measurement in education, construction of teacher-made tests and other classroom assessments, interpretation of standardized tests and fundamental descriptive statistics for evaluating student performance, school improvement efforts, and various designs for process and outcome evaluation of curricula. In addition, the course will provide a comprehensive understanding of the purposes and the logic of various testing programs, including classroom testing,state and national testing programs. Data analysis of New Jersey Statewide Tests that measure student performance will be used to assist in developing skills in data-based decision making that lead to the construction of school improvement plans and determining school goals for professional development and instructional emphasis.

EDUC6740 Introduction to the student with disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. Overview of normal growth and development as a basis to identify developmental delays and learning differences. Characteristics of different disabilities and their effects on how children learn. Review of federal, state and local regulations and their effects on local policies, procedures and placement. Transition planning, resources and assistive technology to enhance the performance of students with disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders.

EDUC6744 Foundations of special education practice. Learning environments that are culturally responsive. Ethical responsibility of special educators to advocate for the highest quality of life potential for students with exceptional needs. Special educators' role in the healing process.

EDUC6745 This course addresses the prerequisite knowledge and skill set necessary to create collaborative teaching/learning environments essential for inclusion. Students will examine effective teaching practices for whole class instruction and the adaptations and modification necessary to meet the needs of students with high and low incidence disabilities. Students will learn strategies that prompt acquisition and application of core curriculum competencies.

EDUC6746 Review of psychological, social and emotional characteristics of individuals with learning disabilities. Exploration of teacher attitudes and behaviors that influence behavior of students with diverse learning needs. Classroom management theories and strategies for individuals with learning disabilities. Collection and interpretation of performance data to develop behavior management plans for individuals with learning disabilities.

EDUC6747 Causes, characteristics and intervention for students with reading disabilities with special emphasis on students with dyslexia. Strategies and related materials for assessment and for instructing students in phonological awareness, word attack, word recognition, fluency, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension.

EDUC7623 Research on characteristics, uses, advantages, and limitations of formal and informal assessment techniques and instruments used to assess educational strengths and weaknessess. Students will learn how to gather background information, select assessment measures, interpret results, and practice writing learning evaluations, and Individual Education Plans (IEPs)based upon evaluation results.

EDUC7624 Selection, adaptation, and use of research based instructional strategies and materials to plan and modify the curriculum for students wit learning disabilities in remedial and replacement settings. Interpretation of formal and informal test data as the basis for planning Individualized Education Programs (IEP) including writing goals and objectives and selecting appropriate strategies and materials to facilitate maintenance and generalization of learning across environments.

EDUC7674 This course serves as a capstone experience that extends and reinforces the teachers' knowledge, skills and competencies related to professional and educational practice through reearch and completion of a culminating project in their relevant area of specialization. The course reviews research methodologies and various research models. The teacher will prepare a research study on a topic/problem of his/her choice (subject to approval by an adivsor) under the directions of a mentor. The teacher will be required to submit a written report and action plan in approved format, subject to the approval of the mentor in accordance with School of Education policy.