Special Education Teacher 41 credits

This major leads to initial licensure as a Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK–8). This program focuses on the development of students' potential in an inclusive learning community. Prospective teachers in this major develop expertise in assessment, curriculum design, and instructional techniques that provide access to the learning environment. There is an emphasis on the development of skills that lead to the successful collaboration between special and general education.

The senior practicum will be a full semester experience at one level within a PreK–8 setting serving students with special needs.

Students in the Special Education major must choose a liberal arts major to complement their professional study. Students may choose from eleven liberal arts fields:

• Art History
• Biology
• Creative Writing
• English
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Studies
• Global Studies: Politics, Culture, and Society
• History
• History and Literature
• Mathematics
• Political Science

I. REQUIRED COURSES:

II. LIBERAL ARTS SUPPORT COURSES:

Courses Required for Special Education Majors to Meet General Education Distributions.

• Arts and Humanities: 3 Credits in American History
• Math/Science (Mathematics): It is recommended that students choose one of the following courses: CMATH 2104 Problem Solving, CMATH 5100 Functions & Algebra, CMATH 6101 Number Theory, CMATH 6107 Number & Operations. Students planning to major in Mathematics may choose any mathematics course for which they have met the prerequisites.
• Social Sciences: 3 credits in Geography
• Liberal Arts Electives: One prefix must be CMATH. This requirement may be waived based on the student's performance on the Lesley University Mathematics MTEL screening.

CEDUC 1352

Teaching, Learning and Social Responsibility

4 credits

This course introduces aspiring teachers to the role of the school in a multicultural society and helps them develop a professional identity. Issues related to mainstreaming and inclusion are addressed. Through a variety of means which include site visits, speakers and panelists, and case studies, students are introduced to five areas of education: early childhood, elementary, special, middle, and secondary education. Issues related to the integration and inclusion of students with special needs in regular education environments are addressed. Students also expand and develop their critical thinking skills. Field visits/experiences are incorporated into the course throughout the semester

Note: Both a grade of C or higher in this course and the successful completion of the early field experience are prerequisites for CEDUC 2351, 2352, 2353 or CSPED 2354.

CEDUC 2401

Literacy Learning

3 credits

This course explores a child's journey into the world of literacy. Critical issues and pedagogy involved in teaching children to read, write, and communicate through listening and speaking are introduced. The language and literacy development of children from preschool through elementary levels is explored. Focus is also given to issues related to learners of varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Major reading approaches, such as whole language, language-experience, basal, and phonics are examined. Attention is also given to the specific components of the reading process: sight vocabulary, phonics, context clues, and comprehension, and to the stages of the writing process. This course provides opportunities to informally assess the reading/writing abilities of children and to design and implement appropriate instructional strategies. Prerequisite: CEDUC 1352. A grade of C+ or higher in this course is a prerequisite to student teaching.

CEDUC 3374

Teaching Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers

3 credits

This course explores the critical issues, content, and procedures involved in teaching children mathematics. The development of mathematical thinking in children from preschool through elementary school is explored, although sections will be designated as early childhood, special education, or elementary specific. Particular attention is given to research in the learning of mathematics, the appropriate use of concrete materials and models, the teaching of mathematics within an integrated curriculum, and the incorporation of computer technology. Developmental readiness, learning styles, multicultural issues, and other diagnostic issues are also emphasized. Current issues such as the development of spatial relations, communication skills, number sense, and the ability to model mathematical situations are addressed. Prerequisite: CEDUC 2352 or CSPED 2354. A grade of C+ or higher in this course is a prerequisite to student teaching.

CEDUC 3410

Teaching Social Studies and Science from a Problem-Centered Approach

3 credits

This course provides students with knowledge of the principles of curriculum and instruction needed to teach basic concepts in social studies and science. The course focuses on the ability to teach children in elementary grades through different modes as appropriate to the children's developmental stage, with special attention given to the influences of diversity in contemporary society and cultures. Priority will be given to models of inquiry-based instruction and critical thinking as they apply to both social studies and science. Prerequisite: CEDUC 2352 or CSPED 2354.

CSPED 2354

Special Education

4 credits

This license-specific course draws on the foundations of education begun in the student's first year and focuses on the role of the special education teacher in today's inclusive educational settings. Students develop an understanding of the collaboration needed between special education and general education so that a successful, inclusionary education can be offered to students with special learning needs. Emphasis will be placed on the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) regulated under state and federal law; assessment strategies addressing both personal and professional special education concerns; the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks; and skills in the design of curriculum and instructional approaches. These are the essential areas needed in order to make inclusionary education accessible for a range of individuals with moderate special learning needs. Prerequisite: CEDUC 1352. Both a grade of C+ or better in this course and the successful completion of the early field experience are prerequisites to student teaching.

CSPED 3300

Developing Accessible Instruction for Struggling Readers and Writers

3 credits

This course explores the challenges experienced by students who struggle to achieve grade-level proficiency in reading and writing. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and analyzing the range of difficulties encountered by struggling readers in order to design and deliver appropriate and accessible instruction. The focus on nurturing and extending the literacy learning of special needs students in inclusive classrooms will require that issues relevant to the diverse nature of this population be addressed throughout the course. Particular attention will be paid to the academic challenges of English language learners. The foundational knowledge acquired in CEDUC 2401 (Literacy Learning) is a prerequisite for course content. Students will both review and extend their understanding of the principles of instruction in reading, writing, listening, and oral communication in school settings. Prerequisites: CEDUC 2351, 2352, 2353 or CSPED 2354, and CEDUC 2401.

CSPED 3320

Assessment that Develops Potential: Diversity in Cognition and Learning

3 credits

This course applies contemporary developments from research and practice in the fields of special education, cognition, and language to the assessment of learners with moderate special learning needs. Students examine, administer, and evaluate commonly applied instruments in special education: diagnostic, psychometric, and achievement tests for reading, written language, and math. They develop informal and alternative approaches to assessment and relate assessment to curriculum and instruction. Identifying and advancing strengths in all learners is a focus. Prerequisites: CSPED 2354 and CSPED 3300.

CSPED 4420

Curriculum Adaptation and Technology

3 credits

Prior to enrolling in this course, students have built a firm foundation with coursework in assessment and curriculum development in math and language literacy, social studies, and science. This capstone course, which occurs simultaneously with student teaching, offers students the opportunity to expand their skills in assessment and curriculum adaptation from the perspective of a special education teacher in the real world of the inclusive classroom. Prerequisite: CSPED 2354. This course must be taken concurrently with senior student teaching.

CSPED 4724

Senior Practicum and Seminar in Special Education

9 credits

This semester-long practicum is designed to meet the standards for initial licensure as defined by the state of Massachusetts. Students must work in classrooms under the direction of experienced teachers and are supervised by Lesley College faculty. As a complement to the practicum, students participate in a weekly seminar. Challenges and concerns growing out of daily teaching are examined and related to instructional strategies and adaptations, theories, and classroom practice. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CEDUC 1352; C+ or better in CSPED 2354, CEDUC 2401 and CEDUC 3374; a cumulative grade point average of 3.0; all education and support courses completed excluding CSPED 4420; a passing score on MA Educator Tests of Communication and Literacy Skills, Foundations of Reading, and General Curriculum. Taken for pass/fail grade.

CPSYC 2401

Child Psychology

3 credits

This course focuses on human growth and development from conception through early adolescence. Emphasized are the characteristic stages of physical, language, cognitive, and social-emotional development considered from various theoretical perspectives. Also considered are the broad range of children's abilities and needs; the influence of family structures on personality and behavior; and common health problems, including substance abuse, as these impact development. Students must fulfill the certification-related competencies assigned to the course in order to receive a passing grade.

CPSYC 2437

Characteristics of Children and Youth with Special Needs

3 credits

This course offers students a legal, social, and educational understanding of inclusionary practices as they pertain to students with disabilities. The course examines the physical, cognitive, affective, and social experiences of children and youth with a variety of disabilities and discusses the implications of these characteristics for participation in school and community.