Curriculum Guide for Mild Interventions

Persons holding Indiana State Teacher's License in Elementary Education - 18 credit hours

Persons holding Indiana State Teacher's Licenses in Secondary or All Grade - 24 credit hours (see additional courses marked with an asterisk)

EDUC 572 Introduction to Students with Mild Disabilities (3)
Prerequisite: None
An introduction to the characteristics, history, and identification of students with mild disabilities. Particular attention is devoted to understanding disability as a social construct, the impact of labels on children and families, and the concepts of cultural competence and normalization. Strategies of working collaboratively with other professionals and families to optimize the outcomes of the child in the inclusive classroom and community are stressed.

EDUC 573 Teaching Learners with Mild Disabilities (3)
Prerequisite: EDUC 572
Models of effective instruction for students with diverse learning needs are presented. Emphasis is placed on promoting culturally responsive teaching and strategies to differentiate and adapt instruction to accommodate exceptional learners within the general education classroom. Curriculum that promotes the academic, social, and behavioral competence of students will be demonstrated in addition to data-based instructional systems such as curriculum-based measurement.

EDUC 574 Assessment and Instruction of Learners with Mild Disabilities (3)
Prerequisite: EDUC 572, 573
This course presents various models of formal and informal assessment to discern the needs of students with diverse learning profiles. Assessment and intervention are linked to promote optimal student outcomes. Candidates learn to administer, evaluate, and interpret various tests, rating scales, and classroom-based assessments to determine appropriate instructional strategies. Assessment procedures by other service providers such as occupational therapists are identified. Curriculum-based assessment and measurement are examined as an operational model to inform teaching and learning. Application of assistive technology to support instruction and assessment are explored.

EDUC 576 Classroom Management through Positive Behavior Support (3)
Prerequisite: None
This course presents a framework for creating an instructional environment based on positive behavior support and school wide discipline. Knowledge and skills of proactive classroom management to promote the academic, behavioral, and social success of students are presented. These approaches range from the techniques of self-management to collaborative problem solving. Functional assessment and analysis as methods to determine causes of challenging behavior and academic failure are stressed. An overview of conflict resolution curricula is provided with strategies to prevent and manage school-based crises.

EDUC 577 Family and Professional Collaboration (3)
Prerequisite: None
This course examines the dynamics of empowerment as a means of developing effective school-family partnerships. Starting from a "system of care" perspective, effective strategies for supporting families as they negotiate educational challenges and for promoting collaboration among the various professionals serving learners and their families are discussed. Required field-based assignments are designed to help participants identify and understand community-based resources beyond their individual school settings.

*EDUC 543 Developmental Literacy (3)
Prerequisite: None
This class is designed to help both candidates and practicing teachers assess and teach literacy in classrooms. Emphasis is placed on working with students with learning disabilities. Candidates develop proficiency in administering, scoring, and analyzing interest/attitude surveys, individualized reading inventories, and writing samples with a small group of students. Using the results of these diagnostic tools, the candidates designs and implements one-on-one lessons to build on the strengths and meet the needs of students.

*EDUC 597 Understanding and Developing Numeracy (3)
Prerequisite: None
Find ways to infuse math across the curriculum. In this highly interactive seminar, strategies are developed to promote the meaningful learning of math concepts. Learn new techniques to incorporate manipulatives, games, critical thinking, and literacy activities to enhance the effectiveness of math lessons.

EDUC 595 Supervised Field Experience (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of all courses
This is an internship in the student's field of teaching under the direction of a supervisor or mentor teacher.

(*) Courses marked with an asterisk are required for Secondary and All Grade Licenses.

The courses in Mild Interventions can become the major component of a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction:

Elementary: 18 credit hours in Mild Interventions + 12 credit hours in core courses, + 6 hours of electives = 36 hours
Secondary and All Grade: 24 credit hours in Mild Interventions + 12 credit hours in core courses = 36 credit hours