General Core Courses

EDPN 620 Child Development and Learning in Cultural Context

This course focuses on the nature of physi­cal, cognitive, emotional, social, and moral development from birth through adoles­cence with implications for learning and teaching; major orientations in the study of child development, including Vygotsky and the neo-Vygotskian theories of child devel­opment and learning; periods of child de­velopment from birth through adolescence seen in a socio-cultural context, with impli­cations for learning and teaching; integra­tion of theory and research findings from the fields of developmental and educational psychology; and exploration of multicul­tural contexts for growth, development, and learning with diverse student populations. Students are also exposed to evidence-based methods of instruction and critically exam­ine the idea that instruction should be evi­dence-based.

EDSN 640 Assessment of Individual Differences in General and Special Education: A Socio-Cultural Perspective

This course focuses on assessment in general education and special education of individual differences in intelligence, learning potential, personality, motivation, and student achievement; management of data from assessment and monitoring of student progress; characteristics of standardized tests; the role of educational testing in program design and informing instruction, particularly for students with disabilities, including children with autism; assessment of young children; use of achievement tests; introduction to dynamic (or interactive) assessment; differences between static and dynamic assessment; the use of teacher-made, informal tests; and opportunity to observe and practice use of achievement tests and/or curriculum-based assessment ap¬proaches in the classroom.

EDDN 634 Basic Reading and Writing Instruction: Teaching Reading and Writing for Second Language Learners

This course provides an understanding of literacy issues specific to English language learners, as well as strategies and tech­niques for teaching reading and writing to these students. Key concepts include: the relationship between first language liter­acy and L2 literacy development; stan­dards-based reading and writing instruction; principles of phonics, struc­tural analysis and sight words; process writing; and the incorporation of technol­ogy. Includes 5 hours of field work.

EDDN 635 Curriculum Development and Classroom Management

This course focuses on the theory and practice of program and curriculum development for English language learners with diverse needs, including those who qualify for special education. Attention is given to the process of developing a PreK-12 ESL program, and associated curriculum, that promotes a culturally responsive school environment, facilitates learning, and accommodates students’ individual needs. Emphasis is placed on needs assessment; pertinent laws, regulations, and policies; program models; curriculum mapping; supplemental resources; and community relationships.

Includes 10 hours of field work

EDDN 636 Linguistic Structure of the English Language - Sociolinguistic Perspectives

This course provides an understanding of basic linguistic concepts and their applications for TESOL instruction. Specific concepts include: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, pragmatics, discourse analysis, and the nature of regional and social variations in American English. Students will explore the origins, diversity and functions of human languages, in addition to the relationship between language and society. Includes 10 hours of field work.

EDDN 637 Second Language Learners and the Content Areas

Students will become acquainted with and practice effective approaches, methods, and strategies for teaching and evaluating English language learners in the content areas (ELA, social studies, math and sci-ence). Throughout the course, students will explore the impact of culture and language upon classroom learning. Special chal¬lenges in teaching and assessment in each content area will also be discussed. In-cludes 15 hours of field work.

EDDN 638 Teaching English as a Second Language through Modern English Approaches to Grammar

This course reviews the structure of American English. Students will learn about diverse theories, approaches, methods, and practical techniques of grammar instruction for English language learners. Special emphasis will be placed on developing instructional strategies to assist English language learners in meeting the current English Language Arts standards. Includes 5 hours of field work.

EDDN 639 Trends and Current Issues in Second Language Acquisition

This course identifies and analyzes current trends and issues in second language ac­quisition and their impact on English lan­guage learners. A central focus will be research on specific topics in second lan­guage acquisition and bilingualism (e.g., brain research, error correction, role of L1, etc.). Students will become familiar with current instructional strategies as well as methods for professional staff and com­munity resource collaboration in building second language acquisition and respect for cultural diversity in today’s society. Stu­dents will engage in a case study research project in a particular area of interest. In­cludes 5 hours of field work.

EDPN 671 Theory and Practice of Bilingual and Multicultural Education

This course reviews the impact of historical, legal, sociological, and political issues in relationship to the education of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Students explore the evolution of attitudes regarding bilingualism and multiculturalism in the United States. Emphasis will be placed on developing multicultural competence as educators, with areas of focus including: cross-cultural communication in the classroom and with parents; how the language and culture of the home and the community impact student learning; cultural factors in the relationships between the school and the community. Models of multicultural and bilingual education will be presented and analyzed. Includes 10 hours of field work.

EDPN 673 Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language

This course provides an historical overview of second language acquisition theories and teaching methods. Students learn how to apply current approaches, methods and tech¬niques, with attention to the effective use of materials, in teaching English as a second language. Students will engage in the plan¬ning and implementation of standards-based ESL instruction which includes differenti¬ated learning experiences geared to students’ needs. Emphasis is placed on creating cul¬turally responsive learning environments. In-cludes 15 hours of field work.

* For Touro College undergraduate Education majors who took this course and received a grade of "B" or better, the credits earned will also count as graduate course credit toward the MS degree. However, in the event an undergraduate student does poorly in a graduate-level course and must take it again in their graduate program, financial aid will not be available for such coursework and both grades will appear on the student's transcript. There are other collateral consequences to such coursework; please consult your advisor or Program Director for more details.

Internships/Practica

EDDN 680 Supervised Student Teaching PreK-12

This course requires a minimum of 20 days or 100 hours of student teaching in both el­ementary and secondary ESL classrooms, under the supervision of the cooperating teacher and a Touro professor. This experi­ence will allow student teachers to apply their knowledge in actual classroom set­ting, as well as gain experience with a va­riety of developmental levels. Student teachers will attend seminars throughout the semester, maintain a weekly reflective journal, and submit accumulative portfolio documenting professional growth. Prereq­uisites: EDDN 636, EDDN 637, EDPN 671, and EDPN 673, and permission of the Chair. (Please note: This course must be taken during the final semester of the pro­gram, and concurrently with no more than one content course.)

Students who have taken either EDDN 678 or EDDN 679 must complete that two-semester sequence, and are exempt from EDDN 680.

*Effective July 1, 2012, EDDN 680 replaces both EDDN 678 and EDDN 679 for students who have not completed either of those two courses prior to the Fall 2012 semester.