Master of Education
Profession and Practice: Elementary Education (1-6)
Leading to Professional Teacher License

Prerequisite: Massachusetts Initial Licensure in Elementary Education (1-6)

This program is designed for in-service elementary education teachers (grades 1-6) who wish to strengthen their subject matter, research, and pedagogical knowledge and expertise. Teachers entering the program should have an initial or full teaching license from their state, be teaching currently, and have at least one full year of classroom experience upon entering the program, as readings, activities, and assessments make continual use of the in-service teacher's experiential knowledge and are designed to enhance their active professional development. In-service teachers from other settings or backgrounds are welcome to enter the program, with the understanding that the group described above is the focus of the program's design.

Program outcomes are derived from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Middle Childhood Standards. After completing this program, some teachers may wish to begin the process of NBPTS certification.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

EEDUC 6042
Profession and Practice: The Ecology of Teaching
As teachers, we are part of ecological systems and social communities that begin with a unique sense of self and place and reach out into a technologically interconnected society. In this course, we will reflect on our sense of identity, our role as agent of change in our teaching, and how that role influences our connection to the students, colleagues, and families within the school and the local community. The course readings, journaling activities, and reflection combine to strengthen our understanding of what it means to be an ecological educator and a critically reflective professional.

[back to top]

EEDUC 6126
Classroom and School Inquiry
Classroom and School Inquiry focuses on the understanding and critical analysis of educational research and methods for accurately communicating this information to the public. As teachers participate in redefining their educational roles, decision-making and action-oriented classroom practice will be critical in promoting student learning. Both require problem-solving, which is enhanced by the forming and testing of hypotheses, gathering data that is then analyzed, synthesized, and evaluated, and generating solutions. This course will engage students in this process by acquainting them with the knowledge and techniques necessary for them to become lifelong teacher researchers, and to present the results of their research effectively and professionally to a variety of audiences. Note: This course is a prerequisite to EEDUC 6127.

[back to top]

EEDUC 6014
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages — Theories and Methods
This course focuses on the theories and methods of teaching English as a second language and the effective classroom practices for English instruction in reading and writing, as well as literacy in the content areas. The cultural diversity of K–12 students on the site where the course is taught is examined as well as its influence on teaching and learning. The historical, theoretical, and philosophical underpinnings of bilingual education are addressed.

[back to top]

EEDUC 6001
The Teaching of Writing (K–12)
This course promotes the thoughtful examination of writers and writing instruction. Throughout the course, students are introduced to strategies and skills they can use to enhance their own writing and the writing of K–12 students. Using a process approach, students learn how to communicate ideas effectively in a variety of genres and for a multitude of purposes. Based on the most current understandings in the field, this course explores such topics as writer’s workshop, conferencing, struggling writers, assessment, reading/writing connections, writing in the disciplines, revision and editing, the use of technology to support writers, and the management of writing instruction.

[back to top]

CMATH 6107
Constructing Mathematical Understanding: Number and Operations I
Participants will develop a solid conceptual understanding of the language and operations of arithmetic, as well as the interrelationships among arithmetic, algebra and geometry.  Topics include place value and the history of counting, inverse processes, the geometry of multiplication, the many faces of division, and conceptual models of integers and rationale numbers.

[back to top]

CMATH 5100
Functions and Algebra: The Study of Patterns
This course focuses on algebra and algebraic thinking through a thorough investigation of functions of various kinds. Students will also develop their capacity for mathematical thinking through a collaborative inquiry approach that will involve generating mathematical data, identifying and describing patterns, representing those patterns in a variety of ways, developing mathematical explanations, and using patterns
to make predictions.

[back to top]

EEDUC 6043
Environment of Learning and Teaching I
This course examines brain-compatible theory and differentiated instruction and behavior management as interrelated approaches to meeting the needs of students in a diverse classroom. Using state curriculum standards and research-based approaches, teachers will learn how to design instruction that facilitates student acquisition and development of academic skills in a variety of content areas. Class discussions and course assignments are designed to help participants plan and implement meaningful instruction that helps all students succeed.

[back to top]

EEDUC 6044
Environment of Learning and Teaching II
The second piece within the environment of learning involves the curriculum development process. Exercises in curriculum theory and curriculum development will focus on making decisions about content, i.e., social studies and English Language Arts, learning styles, classroom management, and the use of technology in innovative ways to supplement, enhance, and extend the curriculum. Recognizing the importance of state curriculum standards, a backward design approach is explored. Participants will examine software tools, curriculum software, Internet resources, and computer-based projects as examples of technology that can be effectively integrated into the curriculum.

[back to top]

EEDUC 7120
Leadership in Action
This is the capstone course of the program in Elementary Education: Profession and Practice. Participants will demonstrate their knowledge of the program outcomes and their synthesis of learnings during the program. The action research project and its public presentation, as well as the program portfolio, should demonstrate that participants have enhanced their teaching and leadership skills, added to their content knowledge, and have set and begun to meet well-developed professional goals.

[back to top]

CMATH 6104
Measurement and Probability
This course introduces teachers to the theory of measurement (length, area, volume), develops geometric modeling in algebra, and introduces teachers to experimental and theoretical probability, and multiple methods for solving probability problems. All topics are presented in the context of problem solving; emphasis is placed on development of these mathematical ideas, and the course design makes connections with arithmetic and reinforces understanding of functions, functions notation, and topics from algebra.

[back to top]

EEDUC 6101
Content Area Reading/Writing/Study Skills (4–12)
Reading curriculum is studied with emphasis on comprehension, content area reading, study skills, and readers with diverse needs in upper elementary, middle, and high school.

[back to top]

Lesley University reserves the right to unilaterally add, withdraw, or revise any course offering in the above-mentioned program of study, including policies, provisions, requirements, and fees.

Lesley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, or disability in its education programs, employment, or in admissions to, access to, or treatment in its programs or activities.