Content Curriculum Fundamentals – EDUC 435

Course Description

Rationale

The Curriculum includes the learning experiences planned for and directed by the upper school. It is important for the prospective teacher to be aware of the wide range of subject matter, teaching methods and potential resources that may be included in the classroom. The attention given to curriculum needs to be placed in historical perspective and be related to what is known about how adolescents learn and how school personnel can best nurture in students a desire to learn. 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. This course will deal with the above framework and include literacy through an interdisciplinary approach. Two hours credit of course content should adequately prepare the prospective teacher for required experiences at this level of development.

Course Assignment

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, you must support your 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)

Interdisciplinary Instructional Planning (IIP) Project

For this project you 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 you will create a school and write a mission statement to guide the focus of your school. In addition to the mission statement, you will identify eight-character principles that represent the values of your school and state how you would integrate a biblical worldview. 

2. IIP Project: Proposal Assignment - For this assignment you will provide an overview of your ideas for meeting the requirements of the 20-day interdisciplinary instructional unit plan.

3. IIP Project: Lesson Plans 1 - 4 Assignment - For this assignment you will complete and submit your first four days of detailed lesson plans using the lesson plan template provided.

4. IIP Project: Lesson Plans 5 - 8 Assignment - For this assignment you will complete and submit your next four days of detailed lesson plans using the lesson plan template provided.

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

Pre-edTPA Practice Task 2 Assignment

As part of the licensure process candidates will be required to log into LiveText and complete Practice Task 2 for the candidate’s particular licensure area. Candidates will review a video submission based on the candidate’s level and content area and then complete and upload the required template. (CLO: D, E)

Culturally Responsive Teaching Article Review Assignment

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