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Graduate Special Education

2016 Spring Term

Class Schedule

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT FOR THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM

SPECED 560

The purpose of this course is to provide general strategies to promote effective behavior management in the inclusive educational environment. Focus will be on theories and practices for facilitating successful integration of children with disabilities in the regular education classroom or public school special education programs.

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EVIDENCE BASED EARLY INTERVENTION FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS

SPECED 565

This course examines relevant theories and pertinent research pertaining to care of infants and toddlers with special needs within the family setting and in group care programs. Content includes an examination of legislative action that calls for intervention services for the birth to three population in natural settings, screening and assessment procedures, eligibility criteria for service delivery, working closely with and supporting families, and team collaboration styles. Mental health issues related to infants and toddlers are examined in relation to those who provide care to this population.

Class Schedule

MEDICAL ASPECTS OF DISABILITY

SPECED 576

Study of the medical, physiological, neurological, physical, developmental, and sensory characteristics of persons with physical or medical conditions which impact educational programming. Emphasis on the etiology and implications of genetic, prenatal and acquired causes of disabilities including cerebral palsy, genetic syndromes, medical fragility, technology dependency, AIDS, and prenatal drug exposure. Interdisciplinary approaches to services provided for persons with complex attendance needs are addressed.

Class Schedule

TRANSITION PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

SPECED 606

Identification of specific strategies for overcoming attitudinal and technical barriers to vocational mainstreaming of special needs students. Content includes values clarification, vocational assessment, vocational IEP development, and elementary and secondary vocational models in delivering appropriate vocational services to EEN students. Content covers grades K-12.

Class Schedule

ADVANCED BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

SPECED 640

The purpose of this course is to provide special educators with the knowledge and skills to intervene with children with intense patterns of behavior that prevent the student from accessing the general education classroom. Techniques for conducting functional behavior assessments and designing behavior intervention plans will be provided. In addition, legal aspects regarding behavior intervention will be provided.

Class Schedule

COLLABORATION FOR EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION

SPECED 658

This course develops student's skills and understanding of the laws pertaining to students with disabilities, writing individualized instructional plans, inclusion, collaboration and school-based team membership, and adaptation and modifications of instruction. Students also develop their personal philosophy of education including beliefs about teachers, students, diversity, community, inclusion, etc. and a profile of their role as a team member through the use of a variety of self-assessment tools and the use of a cooperative learning structure (base teams) for the course.

Class Schedule

FORMAL ASSESSMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

SPECED 661

This class provides the students with knowledge of the legal and ethical considerations related to the assessment of young children (Birth through age eight). Students will acquire skills related to developmental screening, determination of eligibility for special education, conducting norm-referenced assessments, writing reports, and communication with parents and other professionals.

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EDUCATIONAL-DIAGNOSIS AND ASSESSMENT IN LD, E/BD, CD

SPECED 662

A course to develop advanced diagnostic skills for elementary through secondary students with mild/ moderate disabilities (LD, ED, CD). Particular emphasis is placed upon the assessment of cognitive, academic, developmental and behavioral skills that affect classroom performance. The application of advanced trend analysis and data synthesis techniques for special education placement and program planning is stressed and current issues and trends are discussed.

Class Schedule

CURRICULUM/METHODS COGNITIVE DISABILITIES - FUNCTIONAL

SPECED 665

For persons who will be working with individuals who have moderate and/or severe disabilities. Provides methods, strategies and techniques in assessment, curriculum development, program design, instructional strategies, material development, and community transition for the population with moderate disabilities. A major focus will be on all aspects of functional programs across home, school, community and vocational environments.

Class Schedule

DIRECTED TEACHING/INTERNSHIP PRACTICA AND PHASE 4 SEMINAR

SPECED 680

The focus of this course is to support undergraduate and graduate teacher candidates to use formal and informal assessments, apply evidence-based practices in instruction, behavior management, working with families and community agencies in special education, gain first-hand experiences with diverse learners with disabilities, experience the different types and levels of service delivery models in different emphais areas across the special education continuum, and reflect on how, when, and why specific evidence-based practices are implemented in public school and alternative school settings. Teacher candidates will explore respective roles and responsibilities of all student teaching personnel. attention is also given to the recognition and application of skills and activities fundamental to the development of effective teachers. Teacher candidates will complete all special education department requirements including the Educator Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA), unit plans, an IEP, FBA, and BIP along with online reflection journal submissions.

Class Schedule

ACADEMIC INTERVENTION I

SPECED 686

The course is about phonemic awareness, phonics, advanced word reading, and reading fluency for students who struggle to read and have disabilities. Through the use of research validated strategies in phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, spelling, and handwriting, the processes and skills children and adolescents engage in to read fluently are examined as well as similarities and differences in reading instruction in special and general education. Specifically, the difficulties encountered by students with language and learning differences are reviewed and "best practices" in teaching phonemic awareness, decoding/phonics, and spelling are emphasized through discussion, modelling, and demonstrating instructional strategies.

Class Schedule

ADVANCED METHODOLOGY AND PRACTICES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

SPECED 701

This course provides the post-baccalaureate student with the knowledge and skills to understand, interpret, and apply single-case design methods within the large context of research design in education. Students will learn how to evaluate single-case design research studies in order to understand current research related to the behavioral intervention. In addition, students will learn how to conduct single-case design researvh in order to evaluate their own intervention programs.

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PROMOTING REFORM THROUGH COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP

SPECED 703

This course will examine school reform and collaborative leadership from a Special Education perspective. Specifically, the course will provide students with strategic skills to promote collaborative problem-solving approaches to the development of policy and practice that will promote the development of learning communities and the revitalization of the quality of learning for all children. Students will participate in practical activities that will enhance their ability to assume informal and formal leadership roles within and across professions impacting Special Education.

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APPLIED FIELD ACTION RESEARCH IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

SPECED 704

Under the mentorship of the faculty advisor, the student will reflect and implement an Action Research proposal at the classroom, school and / or district level. The synthesis and summary of the findings will be disseminated via multiple formats, e.g. poster sessions, conference presentations, journal articles and the sharing of information at professional gatherings. The Action Research study will be a tool for producing artifacts that can be integrated into appropriate professional portfolios to enhance professional development, career mobility of qualification for NBPTS certification.

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PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

SPECED 705

This course will prepare practicing teachers to develop professional portfolios. Students can select from three types of portfolios -- a Professional Development Portfolio, a Showcase Portfolio or a portfolio that can be used as part of an application for National Board Certification. The Professional Development Portfolio will assist teachers in meeting the requirements for continuing licensure. A showcase portfolio will assist teachers who wish to move into another professional position. The National Board portfolio is one of the major requirements in achieving National Board Certification. lStudents will acquire skills in developing and refining artifacts suitable for each type of portfolio. They will learn how to write reflective commentaries, to self-assess their working according to external standards, to acquire skills (e.g. videotaping lessons; developing web pages) that will assist them in producing high quality artifacts representing their best work. Students may take this class up to two times to complete their portfolio.

Class Schedule

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM

SPECED 761

This course is desgined to help prospective education teachers learn to work effectively with students with mild disabilities. Instructional principles and strategies to provide quality instruction to help students become successful learners will be emphasized. Content emphasis includes models of instruction, and methods for delivery of instruction including lesson planning and unit planning. Students who are not currently teaching will have to fulfill independent field experience expectations.

Class Schedule

GRADUATE FIELDWORK AND PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT

SPECED 783

This course assists graduate teacher candidates to develop their gateway portfolio. This portfolio includes artifacts from Characteristics, Methods, and a performance component. The artifacts selected should demonstrate competencies on the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and Wisconsin Teaching Standards (WTS). The performance component will be comprised of completing 25 hours in an assigned field placement, and a written project. Teacher candidates must earn a passing grade on this portfolio, and passing scores on all clinical evaluations and field projects, for entrance into the Directed Teaching Block.

Class Schedule

INDIVIDUAL STUDIES

SPECED 798

Study of a selected topic or topics under the direction of a faculty member.