M.Ed. in Early Childhood: Teacher of Children With and Without Disabilities (PreK-2) and Creative Arts in Learning
"In a special education classroom, I combine the curriculum with all the creative arts in order to help the children get the most out of the academic environment. A hands-on approach helps them learn specific skills." -Alumnus
This program of study is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Initial Licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and leads to an Initial License in Teacher of Children with and without Disabilities (PreK-2).
In response to Massachusetts state licensure regulations, the School of Education offers a graduate program for students who wish to become teachers of PreK-2 children and integrate the arts into classroom practice and curriculum to enhance teaching and learning in new and effective ways. Students who successfully complete the program of study earn a Master of Education degree and an initial teacher license recognized in Massachusetts.
The strength of this program rests in its underlying philosophy that the arts are central to human learning, and can serve as a foundation for education. The curriculum is designed to offer students current theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in math, literacy, special needs education, science, health, an arts approach to multicultural education, history and social sciences, and the various arts modalities. It emphasizes and honors solid understanding of child development, content knowledge, state standards, assessment strategy, basic technology application, inclusive learning environments, accommodation of different learning styles, and the empowerment of students through creativity and individual expression.
It is possible to complete the program in a year and a half of full-time study. Students have the option to customize their program of study to meet their needs on either part-time or full-time basis.
EARED and EARTS courses formerly GARED and GARTS, prior to June 1, 2009.
| PROGRAM OF STUDY | CREDITS | |
| Required Courses | ||
| EARED 6110 | Arts and Education: History and Philosophy** (must be taken in the first semester of the program) |
3 |
| EARED 5018 | Arts and Human Development** | 3 |
| EEDUC 5139 | Learning Mathematics in Early Childhood** | 3 |
| EEDUC 5137 | Language, Literacy and the Arts for the Early Years** | 3 |
| EEDUC 5138 | Language, Literacy and the Arts for the Primary Grades* (Prerequisite: EEDUC 5137 Language, Literacy and the Arts for the Early Years) |
3 |
| EEDUC 5120 | Young Children with Special Needs* | 3 |
| EEDUC 5130 | Integrated Curriculum for Early Childhood: Math, Science and Health (Prerequisite: EEDUC 5139 Learning Mathematics in Early Childhood) |
3 |
| EARED 6116 | Early Childhood Arts, History and Social Science | 3 |
| EEDUC 6109 | Observation, Documentation and Assessment | 3 |
| EARED 6003 | An Arts Approach to Multicultural Education | 3 |
| EARED 6090 | Critical Pedagogy Through the Arts | 3 |
| EARED xxxx | Arts Elective (chosen with approval of Creative Arts Faculty Advisor) | 3 |
| Practicum | ||
| Prerequisite: Successful completion of a 75-hour early field experience and required pre-practicum courses. Satisfactory completion of appropriate Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure (MTEL) requirements is necessary before registering for the practicum. | ||
| EEDUC 7727 | Practicum and Seminar in Early Childhood Education (PreK-2) (Full semester, full-time practicum, approximately one third of which must be in a PreK or kindergarten classroom and two thirds in a first or second grade classroom.) |
6 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 42 | |
*Must be completed prior to the practicum.
**Must be completed prior to the practicum and include field-based assignments.
For information on Massachusetts licensure, see: http://www.lesley.edu/certification.html.
EARED 6110 Arts and Education: History and Philosophy
Considers the history and philosophy of American education with special emphasis on the arts and their place in education. The approach includes using both mainstream sources and those (especially biographical narratives) from minority groups (African-American, Asian-American, Native American, Latino, religious minorities, and recent immigrants). How the arts emerge from various racial and cultural communities and how schools, communities, and the arts can come together in the education enterprise are examined.
EARED 5018 Arts and Human Development
This course familiarizes students with stages of human development from childhood through adulthood. Knowledge of human development is enhanced through interaction with art materials, music, movement, drama, and writing.
EEDUC 5139 Learning Mathematics in Early Childhood
This course is designed to develop knowledge of content and pedagogy that is essential for teaching mathematics in schools. Assessment strategies, adaptations for special needs, and classroom management are all addressed. The “big ideas” and how they develop and become represented is a strong emphasis.
EEDUC 5137 Language, Literacy and the Arts for the Early Years
This course will focus on the development of emergent and early literacy skills (oral and written language) in young children. Throughout the course, instructional techniques, activities, and materials relevant to young children’s literacy development, as well as the interconnection between language arts/creative arts, assessment/instruction, and theory/practice, will be addressed.
EEDUC 5138 Language, Literacy and the Arts for the Primary Grades
This course focuses on the instruction and assessment of primary grade oral and written language. Emphasis is placed on constructing meaning and empowering all learners with skills and strategies they need to become competent, independent readers and writers. Approaches and resources for the meaningful integration of the arts into the language arts are explored.
EEDUC 5120 Young Children with Special Needs
This course examines concepts relating to young children, preschool through second grade, at risk for or exhibiting developmental delays or mild to moderate disabilities. It focuses on the identification, assessment, diagnosis, and referral of young children with special needs. Class participants will analyze and reflect upon inclusive strategies for classroom structure and curricular/instructional accommodations and modifications. Strategies for collaborating with families with young children with special needs will also be addressed.
EEDUC 5130 Integrated Curriculum in Early Childhood I: Science and Health
Young children learn about their world in an integrated, exploratory way. Children’s understanding of the world continuously changes with the interaction between their development and the quality of these experiences. This course focuses on helping the pre-service teacher develop skills and intuitions in creating a rich learning environment for young students in the areas of science and health.
EARED 6116 Early Childhood Arts, History and Social Science
This course is designed to introduce pre-service teachers to the practice of using the arts to enhance teaching and learning in the history and social science classroom. A variety of hands-on approaches for planning and integrating the arts—storytelling, visual arts, music, drama, literature, poetry, and movement—into the history and social science content areas for PreK–2 students will be applied. We will explore materials and strategies desirable for facilitating higher order thinking, oral and written communication competencies, different learning styles, different points of view, and diversity and social issues in the classroom and beyond. We will examine theories of arts-integrated curriculum as they relate to Massachusetts History and Social Science Framework and National Standards.
EEDUC 6109 Observation, Documentation, and Assessment
This course provides an opportunity to examine a variety of ways to study children in their natural environment and in clinical settings. Emphasis is placed on looking at classroom settings, children’s work, group interactions, and teacher behavior. Authentic assessment and work sampling systems are addressed. Strategies for presenting information about children and portfolios are developed.
EARED 6003 An Arts Approach to Multicultural Education
This course explores ways to approach human diversity and build understanding about similarities and differences through drama, movement, visual arts, music, poetry, and literature. Application is made for the classroom and other work settings.
EARED 6090 Critical Pedagogy Through the Arts
This course is an exploration of the theory and practice of critical pedagogy within arts-integrated teaching and learning. Participants will engage with issues of justice and equality in education as they explore the arts as a medium for critical inquiry and multicultural understanding among learners of diverse sociocultural backgrounds. This course will provide participants with the opportunity to translate theoretical analysis into arts-based curriculum development and pedagogical practice.
EEDUC 7727 Practicum and Seminar in Early Childhood Education (PreK–2)
Full-semester, full-time practicum, approximately one-third of which must be in a PreK or K classroom and two-thirds in a first or second grade classroom. Practicum is supervised by a supervising practitioner and University program supervisor and is accompanied by a seminar addressing issues in the field. Prerequisites: Completion of a 75-hour early field experience, required pre-practicum courses, and MTEL requirements. Permission required.
Note: Lesley University reserves the right to engage in periodic review of courses, credits or programs of study to strengthen the academic integrity of the program and/or satisfy external accrediting agencies without prior notice. Licensure programs will be revised from time to time to be in compliance with the Massachusetts Teacher Regulations. All students should contact their faculty advisors to obtain current information regarding program requirements.
"I cannot ever allow my students to sit in straight rows and fill in blank sheets of run-off busy work. I want them to be on fire and to love learning through the arts." -Alumnus
