EDU 340
Middle School Methods and Philosophy
Instructor: Deb Pitton, Ph.D.
Office hours: M, and W: 11:30 - 12:30 or by appointment
Phone: 933-7444
e-mail: dpitton@gustavus.edu
office: 117 Mattson Hall
Class meets Mon. and Wed. and Fri. from 9:00 – 11:30
in 102 Mattson Hall
Students who complete this course will be immersed in four main modules of study:
I. Adolescents in schools: Middle level philosophy
II. Strategies to meet the needs of all students: SIOP
III. Experiential learning - planning and implementing lessons
IV. Culture and language in the classroom
The assignments support the learning inherent in the MN Standards for Effective Practice, so assessments will be linked to those standards, using the middle level concepts as the knowledge base for meeting the standards.
Conceptual Framework:
This course uses the education department's Conceptual Framework of Principles Practice as a model for the learning processes embedded within the class work. Knowledge and beliefs are developed through readings and discussions; students use and apply this knowledge to engage in experiences where they develop models of curriculum, lessons and activities (via the learning tasks); they assess these experiences. Some of these learning tasks are implemented in classrooms where students can reflect on the interaction and consider how to change and improve their work for even greater effectiveness in the future. This reconceptualization is identified in plans for successive classroom work both in this course and beyond. Conceptual Framework
Student expectations:
Attendance: Interactive learning and extensions to your observations will be the focus of class sessions. The goal for this course is for you to develop your ability to think like a teacher. I will expect you to come to class ready to discuss and participate. Work will be professional and completed on time. Due to the focus on interaction in this class, it is vital that you are in attendance at all class sessions, Fridays in the Field and any team meetings. Please contact me prior to class is there are circumstances beyond your control that keep you from class. Absences from class will impact your grade (see the ‘professionalism’ rubric under Learning Tasks.)
Web site: Pease access class material (including the syllabus) from my web site: http://homepages.gac.edu/~dpitton
Moodle: Access and contribute to the Fridays in the Field discussion on the Moodle site under EDU 340.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to adhere to the college honor code throughout this course. See the professionalism rubric under Learning Tasks on the course web page for further information. Full descriptions of the Academic Honesty Policy and the Honor Code can be found in the catalogue on the web at: http://gustavus.edu/academics/general _catalog/current/index.cfm?pr=acainfo
Special needs: Please contact me during the first weeks of class if you have a specific need in the areas of physical, psychiatric or learning disabilities and require accommodations. All conversations are confidential.
In addition, you may want to contact Laurie Bickett, Disability Services Coordinator, in the Advising Center if you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, learning or attentional disability that may have an effect on your ability to complete assigned course work. She will review your concerns and decide with you what accommodations are necessary. The professor will be happy to work with you, upon receipt of documentation from her. Please contact the professor by the second week of class so that arrangements can be made for necessary accommodations.
Email: I am always available via email and will respond to all messages as soon as possible. dpitton@gustavus.edu
Course Objectives: The Learning Tasks for this course reflect the objectives and are linked to the MN Standards of Effective Practice. (See links on main page to locate objectives and standards.)
Overarching goal of course: To develop in students the ability to think like a teacher.
Required Texts:
1. Teaching Content to English Language Learners by Jodi Reiss.
2. This We Believe . . . in Action. by National Middle School Association.
2. Your text for EDU 330 (Educational Psychology by Paul Eggen and Don) will be referenced on occasion.
3. Articles will be posed on Moodle on the EDU 340 site as they are assigned by the instructor.
