Curriculum Fundamentals – EDLC 571

Course Description

Rationale

It is important for the teacher candidate to be aware of the wide range of subject matter, teaching methods, and potential resources that may be included in the classroom. To make educationally sound decisions and to implement decisions in a manner that is productive for students, educators must know the parameters, advantages, and disadvantages of curriculum design and must analyze the research which supports or discredits those conclusions. Special emphasis should be given to meeting the physical, mental, social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs of each student. Additional attention will be given to the needs of the urban, the rural, the minority, the gifted, the average, the learning disabled, and the exceptional child. All of these aspects of the curriculum should be related to both public education and Christian school education. 

Course Assignment

Readings and presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the candidate will participate in three discussions. Each discussion will be completed in two parts: At least 300 words addressing the provided prompt and 2 replies at least 100 words each to other classmates’ threads. For each thread, the candidate must support his/her assertions with at least one research-based, scholarly journal citation and one scriptural reference in APA format. The research-based, scholarly journal resource cited must have been published within the last five years. Replies are not required to incorporate scholarly citations or scripture integration. Avoid the use of websites. All writing must follow current APA format, including in-text citations and references. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F) 

Culturally Responsive Teaching Article Review Assignment

The candidate will use the Jerry Falwell Library Databases to find two professional journal articles on culturally responsive teaching. He/she will write a compare & contrast essay that is 500 words, not including the title and reference pages. Use APA format throughout. (CLO: C, E, F)

Interdisciplinary Instructional Planning (IIP) Project Assignments (5)

For this project the candidate will plan a research-based curriculum with instruction and assessments that are engaging, culturally responsive, aligned to interdisciplinary standards, infused with technology, and designed to meet the needs of all learners. The project will be a 20-day interdisciplinary instructional unit plan that is content focused with connections to reading and writing across the curriculum. The first 10 days will include full lesson plans using the student teaching lesson plan template provided. Then candidates will map out the following 10 days providing a horizontal planning outline (block plans) with standards and instructional topics only. This assignment will be broken up into smaller pieces and submitted across the term. This is a key assessment that will be submitted to LiveText upon conclusion. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

1. IIP Project: Mission Statement, Character Principles, and Biblical Worldview Assignment - For this assignment, the candidate will create a school and write a mission statement to guide the focus of the school. In addition to the mission statement, the candidate will identify eight-character principles that represent the values of the school and state how he/she would integrate a biblical worldview. 

2. IIP Project: Proposal Assignment - For this assignment, the candidate will provide an overview of his/her ideas for meeting the requirements of the 20-day interdisciplinary instructional unit plan. The candidate will include 3 strategies for technology integration and summarize 5-6 professional journal articles.

3. IIP Project: Lesson Plans 1 - 4 Assignment - For this assignment, the candidate will complete and submit his/her first four days of detailed lesson plans using the lesson plan template provided. These lessons should include 5-6 professional references cited in APA format.

4. IIP Project: Lesson Plans 5 - 8 Assignment - For this assignment, the candidate will complete and submit his/her next four days of detailed lesson plans using the lesson plan template provided. These lessons should include 5-6 professional references cited in APA format.

5. IIP Project: Final Assignment - For this assignment, the candidate will complete and submit two more detailed lesson plans and 10 days of block plans. He/she will also create a flyer that could be sent home to parents/families inviting them to attend a culminating activity/student presentation event.