Teaching and Learning: Best Practices – USF Electives

Individual courses may be selected to assemble a personalized, best practices concentration. If not taking a full concentration, asterisk courses are recommended.

**Note: Foundations of Educational Technology must be taken before either of the other two

ESL/Bilingual

*Theoretical Foundations of Teaching Limited English Proficient Students (4)
Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL (4)
Assessment of the Bilingual Student (3)
*Cross Cultural Studies for Teaching Limited English Proficient Students (3)
Linguistics (4)
Methods and Materials for Teaching Bilingual Students (3)

Special Education

*Development and Characteristics of Individuals with Special Needs (3)
Assessment and Diagnosis in Special Education (3)
Specialized Curriculum and Methods in Special Education (3)

Reading

*Foundations of Literacy (3)
Assessment Procedures and Data Analysis for Student Achievement (3)
Exploration of Literacy Strategies and Materials for Student Achievement (3)
Utilizing Literature in the Classroom (3)
*Literacy and Diverse Learners (3)
*Writing Instruction in the 21st Century (3)]
Reading Teacher Practicum (3)
*Disciplinary Literacy (3)

Director of Special Education

Introduction to Special Education Finance (3)
Legal and Historical Foundations in Special Education (3)
Supervision of Programs for Exceptional Children (3)
Specialized Curriculum and Methods in Special Education (3)

Middle School

*Psychology of the Middle School Child (3)
Middle School Philosophy, Curriculum, and Instruction (3)

Technology

*Foundations of Educational Technology (3)
**Collaborative Web Tools in Education (3)
**Multimedia Tools in Education (3)
Effective Technology Integration into Lessons and Curriculum (3)
Assessing and Improving Student Achievement with Technology (3)
21st Century Educational Leadership (3)

Differentiated Instruction

*Survey of Gifted Education (3)
*Serving English Language Learners with Special Needs (3)
*Differentiated Instruction (3)
*Behavior Strategies for the Heterogeneous Classroom (3)
*Development and Characteristics of Individuals with Special Needs (3)

National Board Certification (Chicago Teachers Union)

National Board Certification 1 (3)
National Board Certification 2 (3)
National Board Certification 3 (3)
National Board Certification 4 (3)
National Board Certification 5 (3)

Conferences

Kindergarten Conference 2013 (1-3)
Mid-America Conference: Relationships + Resources = Results (3)
Mid-America Conference: Differentiating for Diverse Learners (1-3)
Advanced Placement Summer Institute 2013 (2)

The Connecting Link (TCL)
Please see your academic advisor for specific course approval

Collaborative Web Technologies (3)
Powerful and Authentic Social Studies (3)
Creating a Collaborative and Engaged Classroom (3)
Strategic Literacy: Topics in Reading K-5 (3)
Strategic Literacy: Topics in Reading 6-12 (3)
Strategic Literacy: Topics in Writing K-8 (3)
Strategic Literacy: Topics in Writing 9-12 (3)
The 21st Century Mathematics Classroom 9-12 (3)
TechQuests: Teaching and Learning with Web and Mobile Technologies (3)
Transformative Classroom Leadership (3)
Destination Differentiation: How to Meet the Needs of 21st Century Learners (3)
21st Century Learners: Reaching and Teaching the iGeneration (3)
Microsoft Office: Digital Age Applications (3)
Assessment & Grading: Promoting Student Growth (3)
Principles of Brain-Based Learning: Teaching 21st Century Minds (3)
Creating Educational Websites: Increasing Student Achievement with Professional Web Integration (3)
Disciplinary Literacy: Meeting the Common Core Literacy Standards in History, Science and Technical Subjects (3)
Educating Students with Autism: Evidence-based Best Practice (3)
The ELA Common Core: Understanding and Teaching the Big Shifts 6-12 (3)
The ELA Common Core: Understanding and Teaching the Big Shifts K-5 (3)
Planning for the Inclusive Classroom: Developing Successful Frameworks (3)
Maintaining Resilience in Teaching: Navigating Common Core and More (3)
Meeting the Needs of the ESL Learner: Essential Knowledge for the Classroom Teacher (3)
Monitoring Student Growth: Reading Assessment and Data Interpretation (3)
Teaching and Reaching 21st Century Online Learners (3)
School Law for Teachers: Understanding Rights and Responsibilities (3)
Technology in the 21st Century Math Classroom: Supporting Common Core standards and Increasing Student Achievements (3)

Performance Learning Systems (PLS)
Please see your academic advisor for specific course approval

Foundations of Literacy: Beginning Reading (3)
Cultural Competence: A Transformative Journey (3)
Reading to Learn (3)
Teaching Algebra to Middle School Students (3)
Behavioral, Academic, and Social Interventions for the Classroom (3)
Using Online Resources to Bring Primary Sources to the Classroom (3)
Simulations and Gaming Technologies for the Classroom (3)
Collaborative Inquiry for Students: Preparing Minds for the Future (3)
Reading Across the Curriculum (3)
Teaching the English Language Learner (ELL Methods) (3)
Infusing Arts Into the Curriculum (3)
Thinking Mathematically: Elementary Edition (3)
Classroom Management: Orchestrating a Community of Learners (3)
Developing 21st Century Literacy Skills (3)
Writing Across the Curriculum (3)
Action Research in the E-Learning Environment (3)
Strategies for Middle School Science Teachers (3)
Creating Professional Learning Communities (3)
Response to Intervention (3)
Blended and Synchronous Learning Design (3)
Discovering the Power of Live-Event Learning (3)
Geometry for Middle School Educators (3)
Merging Educational Goals and Interactive Multimedia Projects (3)
Meaningful Activities to Generate Interesting Classrooms (3)
Student Engagement & Standards-Based Learning (3)
Designing Motivation for All Learners (3)
Teaching the Skills of the 21st Century (3)
Building Your Technology Education and Skills (3)
Building Online Collaborative Environments (3)
Purposeful Learning Through Multiple Intelligences (3)
Differentiated Instruction for Today’s Classroom (3)
Brain-Based Ways We Think and Learn (3)
Teaching Through Learning Channels (3)
Building Communication and Teamwork in the Classroom (3)
Achieving Student Outcomes Through Cooperative Learning (3)
Successful Teaching for Acceptance of Responsibility (3)
Instructional Design for Online Educators (3)
Facilitating Online Learning Communities (3)
Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in Today’s Classrooms (3)
Strategies for the Inclusive Classroom (3)