Offered by Department of Teacher Education
College of Education

TE Courses

TE 100GS - Teaching in a Democratic Society - 3 hours
Prereq: none
The first course for all teacher education majors. The key course themes are democracy, diversity, and technology. Current educational issues will be explored. The course includes a field experience in K-12 school sites and, also, includes a community service learning component. Concurrent enrollment in a matched section of PSCI 110GS is encouraged.
TE 188GS - General Studies Portal - 3 hours
Prereq: freshman or sophomore standing
Students analyze critical issues confronting individuals and society in a global context as they pertain to the discipline in which the Portal course is taught. The Portal is intended to help students succeed in their university education by being mentored in process of thinking critically about important ideas and articulating their own conclusions. Students may take the Portal in any discipline, irrespective of their major or minor. Satisfies the General Studies Portal course requirement. Students may take their Portal course in any discipline. Students who transfer 24 or more hours of General Studies credit to UNK are exempt from taking a portal course.
TE 204 - Typical/Atypical Growth and Development - 4 hours
Prereq: sophomore standing or above
This course is one of the two required for Level II education majors. Students will become aware of human growth/development and exceptionalities. As students explore these areas, they will also be made aware of the necessity to adapt to the changes brought to the classroom via diversity. Students will be involved in K-12 field experiences that will provide them opportunities to observe student development, exceptionalities, and diversity.
TE 206 - Instructional Technology and the Preservice Teacher - 3 hours
Prereq: none
This course will introduce preservice teachers to a variety of technologies and strategies for their use in the instructional process to accommodate diverse students. Preservice teachers will comprehend and model ethical and democratic principles of instructional technology integration in their classrooms. One course requirement is a P-12 school-based project.
TE 306 - Reading and Inclusion in K-12 Classrooms - 2 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
This course is designed to introduce practical techniques for teaching reading and inclusive methods for learners with exceptionalities in content areas. Content area reading instruction and effective inclusive practices for both elementary and secondary students will be addressed.
TE 311 - Math Methods I - 2 hours
Prereq: TE 204
Coreq: TE 313, MATH 230*
This course focuses on the teaching of mathematics in an elementary classroom setting. The philosophy of teaching mathematics, as advocated by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics will be introduced. The teaching methodology will center on the mathematical content strands of number/operation and algebra as well as the process strands of problem solving, making connections, and reasoning.
TE 312 - Math Methods II - 2 hours
Prereq: TE 311*; TE 318* or TE 472; admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 313, MATH 330GS*
This course focuses on the teaching of mathematics in an elementary classroom setting. The philosophy of teaching mathematics, as advocated by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics will be emphasized. The teaching methodology will center on mathematics content strands of number/operation, geometry/measurement, and data analysis and probability.
TE 313 - Field Experience: Math - 0.5 hour
Prereq: none
Coreq: TE 311* or TE 312*
The course is designed to provide practical application of effective mathematics instructional skills and assessment techniques. Students will be placed in one or more elementary classroom settings for a total of fifty (50) clock hours. Students will develop and implement math activities, lessons plans, and assessment procedures with individual students, small groups, and the entire class.
TE 314 - Phonics and Word Study - 2 hours
Prereq: TE 318* or TE 319; admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 315, TE 316, TE 317
This is a two-credit undergraduate course designed to teach phonics/word study skill instruction in inclusive K-6 classrooms. The course will emphasize phonemic awareness, phonics, sight word recognition, and spelling in a balanced literacy program.
TE 315 - Literacy Assessment - 2 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 314*, TE 316, TE 317
This course emphasizes the assessment of literacy in grades kindergarten through three. The teacher candidate will learn how to administer and interpret assessments of reading and writing ability.
TE 316 - Primary Grades Literacy - 2 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 314*, TE 315, TE 317
This course focuses on the teaching of literacy in the primary grades (K-3). The course will emphasize a balanced literacy perspective for the development of reading and writing abilities by primary age children in the inclusive primary grades classroom.
TE 317 - Field Experience: Literacy - 1 hour
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 314*, TE 315, TE 316
The course is designed to provide practical application of effective primary literacy instructional skills and assessment techniques. Students will be placed in one or more elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 3) classroom settings for a total of fifty (50) clock hours. Students will develop and implement primary literacy lessons plans and assessment procedures.
TE 318 - Management and Assessment in Preschool/Elementary Classrooms - 2 hours
Prereq or Coreq: TE 204
This course is designed to prepare students for the challenges of effectively managing the classroom and assessing student progress. The course emphasizes: planning, preparing, establishing routines, monitoring and managing student behavior, aligning standards-based assessments, determining assessment alternatives, and interpreting assessment results.
TE 319 - Management and Assessment in K-12/Secondary Classrooms - 2 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 320 or ART 371 or CDIS 311* or MUS 358 or PE 471*
This course is designed to prepare students pursuing K-12/Secondary endorsements for the considerable challenges of effectively planning and designing classroom instruction, assessing student progress toward defined objectives and managing student behavior. The course will emphasize: planning and preparation, standards-based instruction, assessment alternatives, creating quality assessment tools, standardized testing, interpreting assessment results, and managing student behavior in a variety of K-12 settings.
TE 320 - Field Experience in Secondary Classroom - 2 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
This 50 clock hour minimum field-based experience is designed to induct students K-12/Secondary endorsements into classroom teaching and develop an awareness of the many roles of a professional K-12/Secondary educator. Under the mentorship of a middle/secondary educator, students will progress through a three-stage process including assisting, co-teaching, and limited teaching. Students will also be required to engage in a variety of school-related activities commonly encountered by professional educators.
TE 323 - Partnerships with Families - 1 hour
Prereq or Coreq: TE 204
This course concentrates on the teacher's role in building successful relationships between families, educators, schools, and communities. Concrete strategies for increasing respectful, successful family-school partnerships that enhance children's school success will be emphasized.
TE 327 - Introduction to Language Minority Students - 2 hours
Prereq: TE 100GS
The purpose of this course is to provide the prospective entry-level teacher with information relating to changing demographics underlying the presence of language minority students in the public schools, the acculturation process, the terminology of second language education, legal issues for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students, and program models designed to serve them. Special attention is given to identifying the attitudes, skills, and behaviors which the monolingual classroom teacher needs to develop in order to effectively teach language minority students.
TE 328 - Content Methods in English as a Second Language - 3 hours
Prereq: TE 100GS
This course is designed to provide classroom and English Second Language (ESL) teachers with knowledge and skills necessary to work with ELLs in mainstream classrooms or in pull-out, sheltered, newcomer, or structured English immersion programs. The aim is to satisfy the twin goals of learning social (BICS) and academic (CALPS) English while not allowing students to fall behind in content instruction.
TE 329 - Educational Assessment of ESL Students - 3 hours
Prereq: TE 100GS
This course is designed to prepare the ESL classroom teacher to organize and implement an appropriate ESL assessment program in a public school. While the course will review principles of measurement and interpretation of current educational tests (intelligent, achievement, language proficiency, and adjustment scales), special emphasis will be placed on other areas as well: cross-cultural communication which include parent-teacher conferences, home visits, and promoting cultural understanding in the classroom; the development of alternative and equitable forms of assessment (authentic, portfolio, and curriculum assessment); and the implementation of a program including hands-on testing practice, the placement of students within an ESL program (or in the regular classroom), and the justification of the program to both regular classroom teachers and administrators.
TE 331 - Intermediate Literacy - 3 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
This is a reading class designed for undergraduate students seeking an endorsement in Elementary Education or for those students seeking a Middle School Endorsement. This course will emphasize the following: the development of literacy skills in the intermediate child including comprehension skill development, vocabulary development and fluency development in narrative and expository text. The class will emphasize a balanced approach to reading instruction. A variety of theoretical approaches will be explored.
TE 341 - Foundations of Early Childhood Education - 2 hours
Prereq: TE 100GS or FSID 250 or FSID 253
The focus of this introductory course is on historical and philosophical developments in the care and education of children with typical and atypical development, birth through age eight. Legal basis of services for young children and current social issues and legislation are studied. Components of appropriate screening and assessment of all young children will be identified. Students are introduced to the range of children served and services provided in a variety of settings. This course is the prerequisite for other early childhood courses.
TE 342 - Literacy Methods for the Preschool Teacher - 2 hours
Prereq: TE 100GS or FSID 250 or FSID 253
This course will emphasize the role of the preschool teacher in the literacy development of children birth through age 5.
TE 343 - Methods of Inclusive Education Birth through Age 3 - 3 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 345
This course is designed to provide students with the experiential knowledge and practical skills necessary to select, evaluate, develop, adapt, and implement developmentally appropriate inclusive instructional strategies for infants and toddlers birth through age three across developmental domain areas. Students will focus on arranging inclusive environments, monitoring children's progress, working with IFSP's, and embedding inclusive teaching strategies within the context of developmentally appropriate curriculum materials to maximize healthy development and learning for infants and toddlers with and without disabilities.
TE 344 - Methods of Inclusive Education Ages 4 through 8 - 3 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 345
This course is designed to provide students with experiential knowledge and practical skills necessary to select, evaluate, develop, and adapt, and implement developmentally appropriate inclusive instructional strategies for young children from age four through eight across curriculum areas. Students will focus on arranging inclusive environments, monitoring children's progress, working with IEP's, and embedding inclusive teaching strategies within the context of developmentally appropriate curriculum materials to maximize healthy development and learning for young children with and without disabilities.
TE 345 - Field Experience: Early Childhood Unified - 0.5 hour
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 343 or TE 344
This course is designed to provide practical application of integrated, inclusive instructional strategies and assessment procedures for all young children birth through age eight. Students will be placed in early childhood teaching environments with children birth through age eight including children with disabilities. The experiences shall consist of 25 clock hours with 20% of the hours (5 hours) in settings with children with a range of disabilities.
TE 346 - Childcare Administration - 2 hours
Prereq: TE 341*
This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the administrative aspects of early childhood programs. This course will prepare students to plan a facility, identify program goals, work with community resources, collaborate with schools and other early childhood programs, implement an early childhood program, and evaluate program quality.
TE 348 - Math, Science, and Social Studies for Children 0-8 - 3 hours
Prereq: TE 204
This course is designed to provide students with the experiential knowledge and practical skills necessary to develop, and implement developmentally appropriate curricular materials and instructional strategies in the areas of math, science, and social studies for children 0-8. Students will develop an understanding of social concepts and mathematical and scientific processes in the context of child development and how to implement activities and experiences across subject areas and themes that engage children in the learning process and help them internalize foundational concepts. Students will develop the skills to prepare materials and activities that are culturally sensitive, and address the needs of children with and without disabilities, including those who are gifted or who are English Language Learners.
TE 351 - Reading in the Content Area - 2 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 352, TE 353, TE 354
This is a reading class designed for undergraduate students seeking an endorsement in Elementary Education or for those students seeking a Middle School Endorsement. The course will emphasize the following: the reading process, textbook selection, the structure of texts, vocabulary, comprehension, questioning and study skills, writing across the curriculum, curriculum, literature and technology integration.
TE 352 - Elementary Social Studies Methods - 3 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 351, TE 353, TE 354
This course provides the student with an overview of the purpose and structure of social studies in the elementary school curriculum. Specific focus on appropriate knowledge and skill in teaching social studies. Students will be engaged in constructivist activities that promote an inquiry-based social studies program for the elementary grades.
TE 353 - Elementary Science Methods - 3 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 351, TE 352, TE 354
This course is designed to help students develop knowledge and skill in the teaching of science at the elementary school level. The course emphasizes the rationale and techniques used to develop and implement inquiry-based science lessons in grades K-6.
TE 354 - Field Experiences in Elementary School Science, Social Studies, and Content Area Reading - 1 hour
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 351, TE 352, TE 353
This course provides students with 50 clock hours of field experience in the teaching of science, social studies, and content-area reading at the elementary school level.
TE 400 - Student Teaching - 14 or 17 hours
Prereq: admission to student teaching
Student teaching is the capstone experience in the teacher education process and is the culminating course for all endorsement programs. During student teaching, teacher education students spend a minimum of 16 weeks in an approved PreK-12 school, to observe, participate and teach under the supervision of an experienced teacher.
TE 401 - Context of Education - 6 hours
Prereq: permission
This is the first course in a sequence comprising a post-baccalaureate pathway to teacher certification. This courses addresses the historical context of education in the U.S., including class/race/gender/access issues; key legal rulings and contemporary reform agendas; adolescent development, relationships, and culture in contemporary context. This course requires a community service-learning component and a school-based field experience in an approved secondary classroom.
TE 402 - Professional Knowledge and Skills: I - 6 hours
Prereq: TE 401, permission
This is the second course in a sequence comprising a post-baccalaureate pathway to teacher certification. This course focuses on instructional models, validated instructional practices and issues related to exceptionality and diversity. This course requires a subject-specific field experience in an approved secondary classroom.
TE 403 - Professional Knowledge and Skills: II - 6 hours
Prereq: TE 402*, admission to Teacher Education
This is the third course in a sequence comprising a post-baccalaureate pathway to teacher certification. This course focuses on instructional planning and assessment, with special attention to the manner in which these are informed by equity, inclusion, technology and diversity issues. This course requires a subject-specific field experience with instructional application in an approved secondary classroom.
TE 404 - Transitional Student Teaching I - 6 hours
Prereq: by permission only
TE 404 is the first of two 6-hour student teaching experiences for transitionally certified teachers which, together with TE 405: Transitional Student Teaching II, comprise the student teaching requirement for the completion of the professional education sequence in UNK's Teacher Education Program for the alternative pathway to 7-12 teacher certification in Nebraska in selected disciplines. TE 404 and TE 405 students are transitionally certified teachers who work full time in approved PreK-12 schools.
TE 405 - Transitional Student Teaching II - 6 hours
Prereq: TE 403, TE 404, admission to student teaching
TE 405 is the second of two 6-hour student teaching experiences for transitionally certified teachers which, together with TE 404: Transitional Student Teaching I, comprise the student teaching requirement for the completion of the professional education sequence in UNK's Teacher Education Program for the alternative pathway to 7-12 teacher certification in Nebraska in selected disciplines. TE 404 and TE 405 students are transitionally certified teachers who work full time in approved PreK-12 schools.
TE 408 - Human Relations - 1 hour
Prereq: none
Designed to enable the future classroom teacher to promote multicultural understanding through varied learning experiences focusing on language and cultural diversity. This course meets the Human Relations requirement specified in Rule 20 by the Nebraska Department of Education.
TE 411 - Inclusive Practices for Students with Exceptionalities in PreK-8 Classrooms - 3 hours
Prereq: TE 311*, admission to Teacher Education
The course addresses the instructional needs of students with exceptionalities and giftedness in integrated settings. Special education referral process, Rule 51, Rule 3, Section 504, analysis of instruction/environment and its impact on learning, assignment/assessment modification, behavioral issues, and evaluation of student learning will be emphasized.
TE 471 - History and Philosophy of Middle School - 3 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
This course is designed to prepare students to understand the background and current trends in middle level education. It also will prepare students to understand the particular developmental needs that young adolescents experience and how middle level teachers develop curriculum and classroom activities to meet the cognitive, social, emotional and physical needs in the classroom.
TE 472 - Management and Assessment in Middle Level Classrooms - 2 hours
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 473
This course is designed to prepare students for the considerable challenges of effectively planning and designing classroom instruction, assessing student progress toward defined objectives and managing student behavior at the middle level. The course will emphasize: planning and preparation, standards-based instruction, assessment alternatives, creating quality assessment tools, standardized testing, interpreting assessment results, and managing student behavior at the middle level.
TE 473 - Field Experience in Middle Level Classrooms - 1 hour
Prereq: admission to Teacher Education
Coreq: TE 472
This 50 clock hour minimum field-based experience is designed to induct students into classroom teaching and develop an awareness of the many roles of a professional educator at the middle level. Under the mentorship of a practicing middle grades educator, students will progress through a three-stage process including assisting, co-teaching, and limited teaching. Students will also be required to engage in a variety of school-related activities commonly encountered by professional educators at the middle level.
TE 474 - Problem Solving in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom - 3 hours
Prereq: none
Topics include activities with hand-held calculators, topics from number theory, geometry, new looks at old geometry problems, problem solving as a process, probability, statistics and mathematical systems.
TE 498 - Independent Study - 1-3 hours
Prereq: none
Investigation of a selected topic or problem on an individual basis. Designed to serve students in teacher education who desire additional study in an area of interest. (Grading A-F)

* This course is the immediate prerequisite. Other preparation is required prior to this immediate prerequisite.

2 May 2011

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