The following are descriptions of courses I have taken to complete my Master of Arts in Education at Michigan State Unversity. Classes are organized chronologically, additional essays and projects completed can be found on my Showcase page.
Fall 2008
Reflection and Inquiry in Teaching Practice I
Instructor: Janine Certo
This course was completed during my fifth-year internship with Michigan State University which focused on best practices for literacy instruction. Throughout the course I created lesson plans and units for first grade students. Once a week I collaborated with classmates regarding strengths and weaknesses. Designing and assessing studies of teaching practices provided opportunities to build experience and knowledge.
Spring 2009
Professional Roles and Teaching Practice II
Instructor: Janet Alleman
This course was completed during my fifth-year internship with Michigan State University which focused on best practices for social studies instruction. Throughout the course I created lesson plans and units for first grade students that accommodated all students needs. Collaborating with classmates in how to effectively integrate social studies standards into other curriculum areas aided in opportunities on how to support these standards in reading and language arts as well as how to create hands-on activities that engage learners.
Reflection and Inquiry in Teaching Practice II
Instructor: M. Puccioni
This course was completed during my fifth-year internship with Michigan State University which focused on best practices for science instruction. Focusing on inquiry based learning, we also discussed ways to effectively incorporate student led observation and talk in the classroom. Throughout the course the importance of allowing students to interpret information observed and create their own explanations of their observations was stressed. I created lesson plans and units for first grade students building on their prior knowledge and misconceptions.
Summer 2015
Accomodating Differences in Literacy Learners
Instructor: Kari Richards
This course focused on best literacy practices and assessment tools to better reach students in reading and writing. Studying a variety of assessment principles that contribute to effective learning, I was able to understand how to accommodate my instruction to meet the different needs of individual literacy learners. Through the child study unit I applied research based strategies learned throughout the course to create lessons and accommodations that would increase student success.
Elementary Reading and Assessment Instruction
Instructor: Amy Croel-Perrien
In this course I learned how to analyze student data and how to use data successfully to modify instruction. While studying Assessments for Reading Instruction by McKenna and Stahl and exploring best teaching practices in Best Practices in Literacy Instruction by Gambrell & Morrow my knowledge of effective reading assessment advanced as well as my ability to shape individualized instruction. In my final case study, I was able to apply my knowledge by effectively assessing and implementing techniques to increase student success.
Fall 2015
Reflection and Inquiry in Teaching Practice I
Instructor: Steve Weiland
This course was the introductory course for the MAED program. Focusing on different forms of inquiry, I was able to apply this knowledge into my own practice. In each of the six units I was able to understand why inquiry is essential for an effective teacher and how to utilize it in the classroom. The most important form of inquiry gathered from this course was the significance of self-reflection for professional development and the benefits for both teacher and student.
Spring 2016
Awards and Classics of Children's Literature
Instructor: Django Paris
In this course I critically examined literary classics and award books for children. Teaching injustice through these award winning classics was a common theme. Each week we explored different cultures who are underrepresented or misrepresented in literature. For my final project I chose to focus my studies on African American culture in children's literature where I created a website that provided information on African American Language, The Civil Rights Movement, and a variety children's literature, and lesson plans to use in the classroom.
Summer 2016
Classroom and Behavior Management in the Inclusive Classroom
Instructor: Troy Mariage
This course identified behavioral, social, and academic characteristics of children with special needs. Exploring principles and techniques for classroom and behavior management in the inclusive classroom I was able to understand the importance and rational of School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (SWBIS). I also explored in depth the importance of prevention as a SWBIS strategy and how effective time management, lesson presentation, classroom and seat work management, and home communication can be in preventing disruptive behaviors from occurring in the classroom.
Children's Literature in Film
Instructor: Laura Apol
This course focused on a variety of children's literacy classics and their film adaptations. Each week we read a new book and watched the film adaptation(s), comparing and contrasting, interpreting the interconnection between the text and film, and understanding film language and the importance of the idea of fidelity to the original. At the end of the course I selected my own book/film pairing and discussed the above ideas along with how it could be implemented in the classroom. The course helped me become a more critical reader of children's literature and how film can be used as a tool in literacy.
Fall 2016
Capstone Seminar
Instructor: Matthew Koehler
The focus of this course was to implement all that I learned from the various courses taken throughout the MAED program. Throughout the semester, I constructed a digital portfolio where I displayed my personal and professional identity. Weekly collaboration with peers provided feedback regarding strengths and weaknesses for each page and link. The completion of this course will display my journey throughout my Master of Arts in Education at Michigan State University.