University of Nebraska at Kearney
College of Education

1994-96 UNK Undergraduate Catalog

Department of Elementary/Early Childhood Education

Courses (ELED)

370. Teaching Elementary School Mathematics - 3 hours

Prerequisites: PTE 300 and admission to Teacher Education. Provides the student with relevant strategies for teaching elementary school mathematics in grades K-9. Students will analyze up-to-date curriculum and will design appropriate instructional materials for teaching basics in mathematics. Stress will be placed on objectifying basic mathematical competence and computing, using both transitional and standard algorithms.

371. Teaching Elementary School Language Arts - 3 hours

Prerequisite: PTE 300. Designed to help teachers and potential teachers learn and develop methods and techniques for the improvement of the receptive and expressive communication of children. It is also designed to gain understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of good language arts instruction, especially in the areas of spelling, handwriting, listening, and oral and written communication.

372. Teaching Elementary School Science - 3 hours

Prerequisites: Four hours of physical or biological sciences. PTE 300, and admission to Teacher Education. Provides the student with opportunities to learn the rationale and techniques involved in the teaching of elementary school science. Stress is placed on the evidence of personal competencies in inquiry teaching, utilization of scientific apparatus, and implementing curricular materials.

373. Teaching Elementary School Social Sciences - 3 hours

Prerequisites: PTE 300 and admission to Teacher Education. Provides the student with an overview of the elementary social studies scope and sequence. It also gives the student opportunities to analyze various instructional strategies, to utilize appropriate materials and resources, and to review current curricular materials.

374. Teaching Elementary School Reading - 3 hours

Prerequisites: PTE 300 and admission to Teacher Education. Emphasis is on the development of a comprehensive elementary reading program: emergent literacy and beginning reading, word identification techniques, development of basic study skills, development of word meanings, comprehension abilities, and developing interests and tastes in reading.

E374. Teaching Elementary School Reading - 3 hours

Same as above course. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Field-Based Teacher Education Program (ETC). For details refer to Special Centers and Programs in the Academic Information section of this catalog.

375. Emergent Literacy - 3 hours

Prerequisite: ELED 362, Admission to Teacher Education, or permission of instructor. Detailed study of growth and development of literacy skills in young children. [Replaces CDIS 261 in ECE Program.]

402. Survey of Reading Principles - 1 hour

Provides an introduction to the application of procedures for reading skill development within the secondary subject area classroom. Topics include: a survey of the reading process, text readability, assessment of reading performance, vocabulary development, and the integration of reading instruction into subject area lesson planning.

405. Analysis and Correction of Reading Difficulties - 3 hours

Prerequisite: ELED 374 or departmental approval and admission to Teacher Education. Diagnostic procedures and remedial reading practices are applied by the regular and resource classroom teachers within the framework of daily instruction.

420/820P. Problem Solving in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom - 3 hours

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.

442/842P. Outdoor Education in Elementary and Middle Schools - 3 hours

Students will have the opportunity to develop and practice the use of science skills for learning in the outdoor environment. In addition, they will be introduced to various types of outdoor education programs, teaching strategies for using environments such as playground, vacant lot, park, and camp site, and resources for teaching activities and organizational procedures for directing outdoor education.

446/846P. Science Curriculum for the Talented and Gifted in Elementary and Middle School - 3 hours

Designed to present characteristics of students, suitable learning environment, teaching strategies, types of skills, curriculum analysis, and curriculum sources for teaching the talented and gifted science students in elementary school.

466/846P. Creative Arts for Children - 3 hours

Explores the validity of creative arts media in contemporary early childhood settings. Provides strategies for the utilization of literature, art, music, dance and puppetry in early care and educational settings (birth to age *).

474/874P. Teaching Reading in the Content Areas - 3 hours

Students completing this course will be able to apply specific methods for developing the reading skills needed for specific content areas at the middle school and secondary levels.

491. Expanded Campus Workshop 1-3 hours

Refer to Academic Information Section for description.

498. Individual Problems in Elementary Education 1-3 hours

Prerequisite: Elementary majors with senior rank and approval by the chairman of the department of Elementary/Early Childhood Education will be eligible for this course. The student shall present a topic or problem of individual significance to his program of study, and which is approved as an appropriate elective or in substitution for a required course.

499. Special Topics

Courses (MIDG)

410/810P. History and Philosophy of the Middle School - 3 hours

Examination of the social, political and economic forces which accompany the development of middle schools; philosophical perspectives in relation to middle school programs and processes.

420/820P. Problem Solving in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom - 3 hours

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.

442/842P. Outdoor Education in Elementary and Middle Schools - 3 hours

Students will have the opportunity to develop and practice the use of science skills for learning in the outdoor environment. In addition, they will be introduced to various types of outdoor education programs, teaching strategies for using environments such as playground, vacant lot, park, and camp site, and resources for teaching activities and organizational procedures for directing outdoor education.

446/846P. Science Curriculum for the Talented and Gifted in Elementary and Middle School - 3 hours

Designed to present characteristics of students, suitable learning environment, teaching strategies, types of skills, curriculum analysis, and curriculum sources for teaching the talented and gifted science students in elementary school.

465. Administering Early Childhood Education and Care Programs - 3 hours

Prerequisite: ELED 362, FCSC 250, FCSC 253, or permission of instructor. To acquaint students with knowledge and skills required to develop, administer and supervise early education and care programs serving children birth to age 8. (2 hours lecture/1-hour supervised field experience).

Courses (ECE)

262. Introduction to Early Childhood Education - 3 hours

Develops (1) an understanding of current theories of growth and development of young children; (2) an understanding of developmentally appropriate practice for early childhood education programs; and (3) an awareness of current issues and trends in the early education and care field (birth through age 8). Concurrent enrollment in PTE 390 PreK or PTE 390 K-3 required. [Formerly ELED 361.]

362. Early Childhood Curriculum Foundations - 3 hours

Prerequisite: ELED 262. Presents theoretical, philosophical, and research foundations for integrated, child-centered, constructivist curriculum development and addresses recent developments in implementation and evaluation of programs serving children birth to age 8. Presents authentic assessment strategies in programs serving young children.

363. Early Childhood Education: Materials and Methods - 3 hours

Prerequisite: ELED 362, FCSC 250, FCSC 253, Admission to Teacher Education, or permission of instructor. Provides opportunities to study, develop, and evaluate materials and methods appropriate for early education and care settings (birth to age 8). (2 hours lecture/1 hour field experience.)

463/843P. Home, School, and Community Relations in Early Childhood Education - 3 hours

Prerequisite: ELED 362, FCSC 250, FCSC 253, Admission to Teacher Education, or permission of instructor. To acquaint students with techniques and strategies for working effectively with parents of young children and utilizing community resources in support of children birth to age 8 and their families.

465. Administering Early Childhood Education and Care Programs - 3 hours

Prerequisite: ELED 362, FCSC 250, FCSC 253, or permission of instructor. To acquaint students with knowledge and skills required to develop, administer and supervise early education and care programs serving children birth to age 8. (2 hours lecture/1-hour supervised field experience)

831 Teaching in a Multi Graded Classroom, 3 hrs.;
875 Improving the Reading Program, 3 hrs.;
880 Seminar: Problems in Elementary Education 1-3 hrs.;
800 Principles of Reading Instruction, 3 hrs.;
805 Clinical Diagnosis of Reading Disabilities, 3hrs.;
810 Diagnosis and Correction of Learning Difficulties in Elementary School Mathematics, 3 hrs.;
850 Elementary School Curriculum, 3 hrs.;
852 Practicum in Remedial Reading, 3 hrs.;
861 Trends in Early Childhood Education, 3 hrs.;
862 Improvement of Instruction in Early Childhood Education, 3 hrs.;
870 Improvement of Instruction in Elementary School Mathematics, 3 hrs.;
871 Improvement of Instruction in Elementary School Language Arts, 3 hrs.;
872 Improvement of Instruction in Elementary School Science, 3 hrs.;
873 Improvement of Instruction in Elementary Social Studies, 3 hrs.;
876 Remedial Reading Materials &Techniques, 3 hrs.;
881 Reading Seminar, 3 hrs.;
890 Problems in Elementary Education, 3 hrs.;
891 Problems in Early Childhood Education , 1-3 hrs.;
896 Thesis, 6 hrs.

See Graduate Catalog for course descriptions.