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Saint Xavier University Chicago Campus Residence Halls

Elementary Education


Prerequisite/Corequisite Key

P = Course must be taken previously C = Course must be taken concurrently E = Course can be taken previously or concurrently
(RQ) = Required (RM) = Recommended  

EDGEL 401

Introduction to the Profession of Teaching

3 credit hours

*Level 1 Professional Education Course. This course is an introduction to the professional, ethical, and moral responsibilities of teachers, and to the teacher education program at Saint Xavier University. Students will be introduced to a variety of professional standards and will focus their attention on the development of their own professional dispositions. Critical issues in education, such as diversity, curriculum development, state and federal mandates and legal issues will be addressed.

EDGEL 410

Elementary Education Practicum

3 to 6 credit hours

*Level 3 -- Professional Education Course. This practicum experience is designed for licensed teachers seeking a subsequent license in elementary education. In lieu of a second student teaching experience, the candidate will enroll in EDGEL 410. This experience will take place at the candidate's classroom if s/he is teaching at elementary level. If the candidate is not teaching at the elementary level the candidate will be placed at an elementary level during summer, fall or spring semester by the Education Program. A faculty member from the Education Program will supervise the practicum.

EDGEL 411

Principles and Methods of Teaching Social Science and the Arts in the Elementary School

3 credit hours

*Level 2 -- Professional Education Course. This course is designed to introduce content and methods for teaching Social Studies and incorporating the Arts in the elementary classroom. Topics include social science/performing/visual arts theory, lesson planning, interdisciplinary instruction, assessment, and a broad overview of content and standards included in the elementary social studies/arts curriculum. The primary focus is the development of a personal philosophy of teaching elementary social studies, along with the integration of the arts in the classroom. 10 field experience hours required (field experience hours pertain only to those graduate candidates enrolled in the traditional Elementary Education MAT program).

EDGEL 412

Principles and Methods of Teaching Science, Health and PE in the Elementary School

3 credit hours

*Level 2 -- Professional Education Course. This course focuses on developing instructional strategies and assessments for teaching science content, modeling science literacy, and employing inquiry-based, interactive learning in a technology-rich environment. A broad range of science, health and physical education content will be explored based on the Illinois Content Area Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. 10 field experience hours required (field experience hours pertain only to those graduate candidates enrolled in the traditional Elementary Education MAT program).

EDGEL 418

Foundations and Methods of Literacy and Language Arts

3 credit hours

Level 2 Professional Education Course: Requires Admission to an Education Program. Investigation of theory, research and practice related to the teaching and learning of reading and the language arts. Incorporates the study of language and literacy development; reading and writing processes; principles, methods and materials of literacy instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. 10 field experience hours required.

EDGEL 419

Assessment and Diagnosis of Reading Problems

3 credit hours

*Level 2 -- Professional Education Course. This course will focus on the study of the combined procedures of assessment, evaluation, and instruction. Topics will target the development and implementation of methods materials and assessments to enable the classroom teacher to adapt instruction to small groups and students' needs. This course is designed to enable teacher candidates to use sound theoretical, philosophical, and knowledge-based approaches to the diagnosis and instruction for struggling readers, employing the guidelines and standards of the International Literacy Association. 15 field experience hours required.

EDGEL 421

Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School

3 credit hours

Level 2 Professional Education Course. The course focuses on the analysis of children's construction of mathematical knowledge and on mathematics as a meaningful activity. The use of word problems and manipulatives to aid in the understanding of operations on whole numbers, fractions, decimals and percents is stressed. Methods of teaching proportions, ratios, measurement, geometry and statistics are included. 15 field experience hours required.

EDGEL 425

Child Growth and Development

3 credit hours

*Level 1 Professional Education Course. This course focuses on the study of theories of development that include the physical, psychosocial, cognitive and moral development of the individual from infancy through childhood. Application of these theories as they relate to the child's formal and informal school experiences is examined.

EDGEL 439

Managing the Elementary Classroom: Behavior Management and Instructional Planning

3 credit hours

*Level 2 -- Professional Education Course. This course presents best practices in classroom and behavior management - from organizing time, materials, and classroom space to strategies for managing individual and large group student behaviors, transitions, and other arrangements for general education classrooms. In addition, teacher candidates will be introduced to the effective development and design of instructional lesson planning for all students, including ESL and students with special needs. Topics will include, but are not limited to: Classroom Management, Classroom Organization, Behavior Management, Response to Intervention, PBIS, Common Core State Standards, Understanding by Design (UbD) and research-based instructional strategies. 10 field experience hours required.

EDGEL 441

Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making

3 credit hours

*Level 2 -- Professional Education Course. This course will provide teacher candidates with an understanding of how to use data to inform instruction and enhance learning for diverse student populations. Teacher candidates will participate in activities that will enhance knowledge of assessment task development, analysis, and interpretation of results. Documenting student performance and progress both for instructional and accountability purposes will be emphasized. Candidates will become familiar with quantitative and qualitative concepts and practices used to evaluate student learning in the classroom. They will learn how to communicate assessment results to their learners. Candidates will also explore established and developing assessment technologies. Topics may include but are not limited to: Multi-tiered systems of support (response to intervention), standardized assessments, benchmark assessments, diagnostic assessments, progress monitoring assessments, formative assessments, performance assessments, teacher-developed assessments, rubrics, checklists, data literacy and assessment-based grading.

EDGEL 445

Seminar in Teaching and Learning

3 credit hours

E: EDGEL-446

*Level 3 -- Professional Education Course. This course for student teachers includes a structured teaching performance assessment (edTPA) in the directed teaching site; an analysis of the contextual factors of the elementary students' learning environment; alignment of teaching with the state learning standards; an appropriate assessment plan linked to learning goals; instruction designed for engaged, successful learning for all students'; modifications to address diverse learners; analysis and evaluation of students' learning; and oral and written reflection of all components of the teaching process. Enrollment requires completion of general education prerequisites, all education coursework, and field experiences

EDGEL 446

Directed Teaching - Elementary Education

6 credit hours

E: EDGEL-445

*Level 3 - Professional Education Course. This student teaching practice experience is a serious apprenticeship that requires teacher candidates to spend a full semester [16 weeks] in a school setting working alongside veteran elementary school teachers. The experience is designed to provide opportunities for candidates to apply course concepts in an authentic classroom environment. This semester includes guided observation, active participation, as well as solo/co-teaching. Throughout this experience a university supervisor and a mentor teacher support the teacher candidate. Enrollment requires successful completion of general education prerequisites, all education coursework and field experiences.

EDGEL 483

Reading and Writing in the Content Areas

3 credit hours

*Level 2 -- Professional Education Course; This course will explore research-based strategies to support students as they engage with informational text. Topics will include, but are not limited to: research-based strategies for reading expository texts; narrative, opinion/argumentative, and informational/explanatory writing strategies and frameworks; developing oral communication skills; and building academic vocabulary. 10 field experience hours required.

EDGEL 506

Advanced Child Development

3 credit hours

This course focuses on the psychological and social development of the individual from infancy through childhood. Students engage in research-based readings on varied topics of development, including prenatal development, the major goals and theoretical issues in the study of development, major historical influences in the field, and normal and abnormal characteristics of individuals. Graduate students seeking certificate in Early Childhood or Elementary Education may not substitute this course with an undergraduate course. 5 field experience hours required.

EDGEL 512

Assessment of Instruction and Learning

3 credit hours

All sections of 512 are cross-listed. Required for Certification. This course is designed to address the assessment and evaluation of student progress toward meeting targeted standards, learning objectives and competencies. The development of interpretive skills across learning objectives will be stressed. Topics addressed include: standards-based assessment, standardized tests and interpreting their results, performance assessment, portfolio assessment, self-evaluation and dissemination of assessment results. Offered according to the cohort schedule.

EDGEL 519

Assessment and Diagnosis of Reading Problems

2 credit hours

This course focuses on the study of the combined procedures of literacy assessment, evaluation, and instruction. Topics will target the development and implementation of methods, materials, and assessments to enable the classroom teacher to adapt instruction to the needs of small groups and individual students. This course is designed to enable teacher-candidates to use sound theoretical, philosophical, and knowledge-based approaches to the diagnosis and instruction for struggling readers, employing the guidelines and standards of the International Literacy Association.

EDGEL 521

Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School

2 credit hours

The course focuses on the analysis of children's construction of mathematical knowledge and on mathematics as a meaningful activity. The use of word problems and manipulatives to aid in the understanding of operations on whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents is stressed. Methods of teaching proportions, ratios, measurement, geometry and statistics are included.

EDGEL 525

Child Growth and Development

2 credit hours

This course focuses on the study of theories of development that include the physical, psychosocial, cognitive and moral development of the individual from infancy through childhood. Application of these theories as they relate to the child's formal and informal school experiences is examined.