Elementary Education

ED 185/585 Practicum
ED 230 Children's Literature
ED 235 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
MA 306 Methods in Mathematics
ED 315/515 General Methods
ED 337/537 General Methods II
ED 343/543 Language Arts Methods
ED 386/585 Reading Practicum
ED 495/595/596 Student Teaching/Internship

Special Education

ED 185/585 Practicum
ED 230 Children's Literature
ED 235 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
MA 306 Methods in Mathematics
ED 315/515 General Methods
ED 337/537 General Methods II
ED 343/543 Language Arts Methods
ED 353/553 Analysis and Characteristics: Cross Categorical
ED 363/563 Educational Assessment
ED 386/586 Reading Practicum
ED 495/595/596 Student Teaching/Internship

Middle School Education

ED 185/585 Practicum
ED 235 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
MA 306 Methods in Mathematics
ED 315/515 General Methods
ED 454/554 The Middle School Teacher: Skills, Knowledge, & Attitudes
ED 455/555 Special Methods
ED 495/595/596 Student Teaching/Internship

Secondary Education (Minor)

ED 185/585 Practicum
ED 235 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
ED 315/515 General Methods
ED 455/555 Special Methods
ED 495/595/596 Student Teaching/Internship


[ The Descriptions of the Teaching/Clinical Programs ]

ED 185/585 Practicum
The Practicum course occurs at the beginning of the education program to allow students to take a "real look" at how classrooms and teachers function in urban, suburban, rural, parochial, and charter schools. In the Practicum course, students are placed at different schools where they shadow TEXT (Teaching Excellence Team) teacher throughout the school day to better understand the multiple duties they perform. Avila students assist the teachers with varied classroom activities. In turn, the teachers engage Avila students in reflective dialogue about the profession. Many students return to their Practicum classroom for student teaching. The TEXT team is comprised of a group of 170 outstanding practicing teachers in all disciplines at all levels. These teachers are recommended by their building administrators for their excellence as teachers and mentors.

ED 230 Children's Literature
Children's Literature focuses on examining children's books, establishing criteria for selection, relating children's literature to the reading program, and integrating children's literature across the curriculum. In this course, students complete a clinical component where they go into various elementary classrooms to read to and with the children. It provides them an authentic opportunity to see how children respond to various texts, to use "voices" effectively as teaching tools, and to hone their questioning skills.

ED 235 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
Psychology of the Exceptional Child is designed to provide an introduction to the different exceptionalities represented within schools. Social, educational, and family characteristics and interactions are explored for disabled and gifted students. The course includes a clinical component whereby students must observe and reflect upon happenings in classrooms where exceptional students are represented.

MA 306 Methods in Mathematics
In Math Methods, students complete an experience tutoring school children, either individually or in small groups. They have the opportunity to practice using mathematics manipulatives for teaching and reviewing concepts. The experience also provides Avila students with the opportunity to discuss with a classroom teacher various approaches to teaching and assessing mathematics.

ED 315/515 General Methods
In this course, structured observations create a valuable clinical experience for Avila students. These observations allow them to get into several classrooms as silent observers. While in the classrooms, they seek to identify pedagogical theory and principles in action. The clinical component provides an opportunity for students to make evaluative judgments in regard to both the science and the art of teaching. The structured observations often aid students in identifying the environment(s) in which they would like to student teach.

ED 337/537 General Methods II
In this clinical experience, education students from Avila serve as Junior Achievement "consultants" and teachers in inner-city schools throughout Kansas City and the greater metropolitan community. Students teach lessons adopted by The National Council for Social Studies for use in an economics curriculum. The hands-on activities supplement and reinforce the regular classroom curriculum. Avila students engage elementary children in problem solving and decision-making through the study of economics. They introduce the principles of economics, career choices, entrepreneurship, interpersonal skills, resume writing, and interview skills.

ED 343/543 Language Arts Methods
In this course, students participate in a community-based program (Youth Friends) that connects caring adults with children in the public schools who are at risk for school failure. Students in the Avila class are assigned to teachers at Indian Creek Elementary School who have requested a Youth Friends volunteer. Each Avila student is required to provide instruction in the language arts. Instruction focuses on the writing process, constructing written responses, concept development, and comprehension.

ED 353/553 Analysis and Characteristics: Cross Categorical
Analysis and Characteristics requires students to make structured observations in different special educational settings such as a resource room, class within a class, full inclusion classroom, or self-contained classroom. Students are also required to use the following structured observation techniques: time sampling, event recording, and naturalistic approaches. Students are also required to interview three practicing special education teachers to discuss current issues in the field and to become familiar with the literature regarding teaching SPED.

ED 363/563 Educational Assessment
In this course students administer, score and interpret various types of tests - including achievement, attitude, and behavior tests - to students between the ages of five and eighteen. The purpose of the course is to provide Avila students with the beginning knowledge and skills needed to perform educational assessments with school-aged children. By learning these beginning skills, they will be initially prepared to administer and score similar tests when they teach.

ED 385 Reading Practicum
Reading Practicum is a clinical experience which requires Avila students to work with elementary teachers to identify and remediate weaknesses certain children are exhibiting. Students practice using various assessment tools and construct and teach remedial reading lessons to elementary children. This field experience also provides students with the opportunity to observe master teachers in action and discuss their best practices.

ED 454/554 The Middle School Teacher: Skills, Knowledge, & Attitudes
This course concentrates on helping students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to teach in a middle school setting while stressing collaboration and team work. Interactions with middle school teams require students to differentiate teaming styles and identify teaming techniques. Avila students are also required to make structured observations allowing them to watch and interact with master middle school teachers and their students.

ED 455/555 Special Methods
Students seeking secondary certification in a specific content area take this class. It is taught by a practicing teacher with outstanding expertise in the field and is given on-site at a public/private school. The purpose of this course is to give the student an opportunity to work directly with a mentor in the specialized field and to learn specialized methods of teaching and assessing.

ED 495/595/596 Student Teaching/Internship
Student Teaching/Internship is the final clinical experience. It occurs in a classroom setting appropriate to the discipline and level at which the student will be certified. Avila students participate with the cooperating teacher in all meetings, staffing, in-service trainings, conferences, and extra duties. By the completion of the experience, student teachers have taken on all teaching responsibilities. Supervision and guidance are shared between the college supervisor and the cooperating teacher.