TEP 4005 Teacher Education Program Licensure and Logistics (0 Credits)

This course is designed to equip teacher candidates with the tools, knowledge, and support necessary to successfully manage the logistical components of educator licensure. Emphasis is placed on understanding and meeting state certification requirements and university program expectations. By the end of the course, candidates will be able to navigate licensure processes with confidence and maintain progress toward full licensure and successful program completion.

TEP 4010 Foundations of Special Education: Inclusive Pedagogy for Students with Dis/Abilities (2-4 Credits)

This course serves as the foundation for understanding children with disabilities and dis/abilities, as well as the philosophies, laws and policies that support the students. To be responsive to the diverse strengths, needs, and experiences children bring to the classroom, educators need a foundational knowledge of special education and opportunities that can influence student learning. We emphasize a strengths-based perspective and provide pedagogy for supporting for all learners. We introduce the classroom teacher’s role in understanding the Individual Education Program (IEP) process, designing lesson plans and inclusive practices based on differentiated and universal design learning instructional strategies and working collaboratively with families and interdisciplinary teams. In addition, we introduce potential commonalities of students with high-incidence disabilities, the history and legal aspects of Special Education and the Response to Intervention Model (RtI)/Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Course restricted to students in TEP program or instructor approval.

TEP 4590 Elementary Literacy Instruction I (4 Credits)

This is the first of two elementary literacy classes. The purpose of Literacy Instruction I is to provide apprentice teachers with the research-based foundations of reading processes for diverse learners. Teacher candidates will be knowledgeable about the development of reading, the science of reading research, and its application to effective instructional practices within the language domains of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Teacher candidates will learn how to plan and organize core literacy practices such as interactive read alouds and small group reading instruction in conjunction with Colorado Academic Standards and the Common Core State Standards. The National Reading Panel (NRP) summarized their findings in five components of reading instruction that will guide our work together: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and text comprehension. Course restricted to students in TEP program or instructor approval.

TEP 4591 Elementary Literacy Instruction II (4 Credits)

This is the second quarter of a twenty-week course focused on literacy with an emphasis on language, phonics, and writing. The purpose of TEP 4591 or Literacy Instruction is to provide teacher candidates with the research-based foundations and processes employed in skillful speaking, listening, reading and writing. Specifically, we will look at the building blocks of literacy that include phonics and language acquisition: phonology, morphology, and syntax and its application to reading and writing as we build from our reading emphasis the previous quarter. In this course, there will be a shift from literacy input (reading and listening) from the previous quarter to literacy output (writing and speaking). Further, at the end of the course, teacher candidates will reflect upon their literacy philosophy as we review key concepts and classroom strategies. Course restricted to students in TEP program or instructor approval.

TEP 4592 Literacy Instruction for Secondary Teaching I (4 Credits)

This is the first quarter of a twenty-week course on literacy. The purpose of this course is to provide teacher candidates with the research-based foundations of literacy and cognitive processes employed in skillful reading and writing for effective secondary instruction. In this first course, teacher candidates will be knowledgeable about the stages of reading as well as student literacy development in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Teacher candidates will practice recognizing and evaluating these skills on a micro level through a mini-case study of an individual student. Teacher candidates will learn how to plan, organize, and tailor literacy instruction in their specific content area using ongoing and summative assessment in conjunction with the Common Core State Standards/Colorado Academic Standards. Teacher candidates will develop the knowledge, skills and understanding of the science of reading as it applies to all students from a wide range of backgrounds. There is a special emphasis in this course on literacy instruction in urban, diverse, and multi-lingual settings. Course restricted to students in TEP program or instructor approval.

TEP 4593 Literacy Instruction for Secondary Teaching II (4 Credits)

This is a literacy course for secondary-level English, math, science and social studies teacher candidates. In this course, there will be a shift of focus from literacy input (reading) from the previous quarter to literacy output (writing), and we will broaden our scope from analyzing one student at a time to assessing and addressing students’ literacy needs in a whole-classroom environment. This quarter we will also examine outside influences – such as culture, language, and technology – on classroom literacy and how literacy practices and teaching methods can be adapted for multiple contexts. Throughout the course, teacher candidates will develop and reflect upon their literacy philosophy in terms of planning and instruction in a specific content area. Course restricted to students in TEP program or instructor approval.

TEP 4610 English in Secondary School (3-5 Credits)

In this course, Apprentice Teachers will explore the theory and practice of teaching English Language Arts at the secondary level. Topics include standards alignment, student cognitive development, and pedagogical content knowledge. Course restricted to students in TEP program or instructor approval.

TEP 4620 Social Science in Secondary School (3-5 Credits)

In this course, Apprentice Teachers will explore the theory and practice of teaching Social Studies at the secondary level. Topics include standards alignment, student cognitive development, and pedagogical content knowledge. Course restricted to students in TEP program or instructor approval.

TEP 4630 Science in Secondary School (3-5 Credits)

In this course, Apprentice Teachers will explore the theory and practice of teaching Science at the secondary level. Topics include standards alignment, student cognitive development, and pedagogical content knowledge.

TEP 4640 Math in Secondary School (3-5 Credits)

In this course, Apprentice Teachers will explore the theory and practice of teaching Mathematics at the secondary level. Topics include standards alignment, student cognitive development, and pedagogical content knowledge. Course restricted to students in TEP program or instructor approval.

TEP 4690 Field Experience (1-12 Credits)

Involves field experiences, including full-day teaching for 12 weeks in elementary or secondary school classroom and regularly scheduled seminar discussions with supervisor. Prerequisite: enrollment in the Teacher Education Program.

TEP 4991 Independent Study (1-10 Credits)

TEP 4995 Independent Research (1-10 Credits)