Summer 2013

TE 846

Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners

Instructor: Jane Knight

While this course mainly focused on the best practices of literacy, it also included many other topics; such as including differentiated instruction, student motivation, and accommodations or practices for all learners. Through this course, I had the opportunity to work with a student where I used assessment to inform my literacy instruction. I developed a series of lessons to address my student’s area of need in literacy. I analyzed data and created future literacy recommendations for this student based on literacy best practices.

Spring 2014

TE 836

Awards and Classics of Children's Literature

Instructor: Dr. Laura Apol

This course brought me back to my childhood. I was reintroduced to many of the timeless classics that were read to me as a child. However, throughout this course I spent time exploring these classics in much greater depth. I discovered what qualities are required in order for a book to be considered a classic. I also explored various awards that a children's book can receive as well as the requirements that a book must possess in order to receive such an honor.

Fall 2014

TE 842

Elementary Reading Assessment and Instruction

Instructor: Marliese Peltier

The focus of this course was to become familiar with effective reading assessments, in multiple ways. TE 842 not only allowed me to explore a variety of reading assessments that are available to teachers, but it walked me through how to choose the proper assessments and how to understand the data that I collected from the assessments. However, the biggest takeaway that I had was how to successfully use the data that I collected from the assessments to drive instruction, weather it be individually, or during small and whole group instructional time.

Spring 2015

TE 849

Methods and Materials for Teaching Children's Adolescent Literature

Instructor: Dr. Laura Apol

I have always enjoyed teaching literature using picture books however, this course gave me a whole new outlook on how to have meaningful conversations around the text as well as the illustrations that are present with a picture book. I was introduced to a variety of new terminology to use when discussing illustrations in picture books, such as double page spread, frame, and bleed; which added to the in-depth conversations. This course also made me think deeply about the value and role that children's literature plays in the development of a child's feelings towards reading.

Fall 2015

CEP 816

Technology, Teaching, and Learning Across the Curriculum

Instructors: Dr. Paul Morsink, Ha Nguyen, and Ian Clemente

With technology being the forefront of education these days, this course was eye-opening. I was able to take an entire science unit- one that I had taught before and recreate it using only technology. While it was challenging, I was introduced to a plethora of multi-media resources, many of which I still consistently use within my classroom.

Spring 2016

TE 848

Writing Assessment and Instruction

Instructor: Dr. Janine Certo

This course allowed me to take a closer look at how I teach writing within my classroom, specifically expository writing. I was able to recreate how I teach expository writing to make it a more valuable learning experience for my students. I simplified the process into several different steps and allowed for multiple whole group and small group mini lessons before my students completed their own expository piece. Overall, this course made me more comfortable with teaching a topic that has always been difficult for me.

Summer 2016

TE 838

Children's Literature in Film

Instructor: Dr. Laura Apol

This course revolved around popular books that had been turned into films. This course required me to look deeper than just the surface of the books and the films when searching for similarities and differences between the two. I explored various ways that I could bring films that were based off of books into the classroom and how to create meaningful conversation when comparing the two. Overall, I learned that pairing can used in a variety of ways within the classroom and that there is value in using film in the classroom, when it is done in a purposeful way.

Summer 2017

ED 800

Concepts of Educational Inquiry

Instructor: Dr. Steven Weiland

Dr. Weiland's course focused on concepts of educational inquiry and addressed problems of theory and practice in teaching and learning, administration, and leadership. I learned about various philosophical, psychological, biological, historical, biographical, and ethnographic concepts of educational inquiry through readings and assignments. I applied these learnings into an educational context to help me grow as an educator.

Fall 2017

CEP 818

Creativity in Teaching and Learning

Instructors: Carmen Richardson and Candace Marcotte

Bringing creativity into the classroom is a common thing that teachers strive for these days. In this course, I got to choose an area that I teach that I felt was lacking creativity and ended up focusing on personal narrative writing. This course focused on the Seven Tools of Creativity, which include: embodied thinking, perceiving, patterning, play, abstract thinking, modeling and dimensional thinking. When recreating my personal narrative writing unit I used the above tools to help me bring creativity into my lessons. I was able to incorporate Legos, puppets, movement, and comics into my writing unit while still teaching my students the same writing standards.

Spring 2018

ED 870

Capstone Seminar

Instructors: Dr. Matthew Koehler, Brittney Dillman, Spencer Greenhalgh, and Sarah Keenan-Lechel

CEP 870 is the final course in the Master of Arts in Education program. Through this course, I developed an online professional portfolio that showcases the courses I completed throughout my master’s degree. In addition, I reflected on my experiences throughout my master’s program and how it has impacted my goals and instruction as an educator. I had the opportunity to collaborate with others on a weekly basis to reflect on the assignments and provide feedback to one another to create a strong portfolio.