Welcome Letter for
Language Arts Methods 5-8
and
Social Studies Methods 5-8
Professor:
Betsy Golden
Email:
goldenb@wpunj.edu
Department:
Middle and Secondary Education
Course No. & Section:
CIMS 332-80 and CIMS 333-80
Phone:
973-720-2120 (department secretary – Mrs. Stevens)
Office Hours:
To be arranged
Hello, and welcome to Language Arts Methods 5-8 and Social Studies Methods 5-8!
Welcome to CIMS 332-80 and CIMS 333-80, Language Arts Methods 5-8 and Social Studies Methods 5-8! CIMS 332-80 is a required course for students seeking K-5 certification with a 5-8 endorsement. It gives prospective teachers a theoretical knowledge base and conceptual understanding of content area reading. Students will learn different teaching and learning strategies in the content areas and will select, plan and design materials for content area instruction.
CIMS333-80 examines methods and materials for teaching grade 5-8 social studies. Social studies is defined as an interdisciplinary field which includes history, geography, sociology, psychology, anthropology, political science and economics, and which examines social problems over time and in different times and places. Social studies is presented as a means of understanding the diversity and unity of peoples and their societies worldwide. The course emphasizes methods of teaching democratic and multicultural values, cooperative interaction and personal social responsibility. The course also explores interdisciplinary connections between social studies and other elementary school subjects such as math, science, language arts and fine arts.
Expectations
An online course will require at least as much time in preparation and participation as a regular classroom course. As in any other course, you must “attend” class regularly by logging onto Blackboard several times each week; you will not be able to make up weeks in which you have been absent.
Course Objectives
The candidate will:
CIMS 332
CIMS 333
Outcomes
Candidates will be able to:
1. Demonstrate their knowledge of the theories, methods and content of social studies through research papers on social studies issues.
2. Explore multicultural studies and global education by writing a reflective essay and through oral presentations.
3. Create an interdisciplinary social studies unit for grades 6-8 that integrate social studies content with language arts, math and science.
Texts
Robb, L. (2010). Teaching Reading in Middle School (Grades 5 & Up) (2nd ed.). New York: Scholastic Professional Books.
Schell, E. & Fisher, D. (2007). Teaching Social Studies: A Literacy-Based Approach. Prentice Hall.
Grading
1. Participation in discussion on blackboard (20%): You are expected to log on AT LEAST twice a week. Check the announcements EVERY DAY.
2. Individual projects (50%): You will reflect carefully about what will best help you to develop as a teacher candidate and propose two or three projects that will comprise 50% of your grade. (A list of projects students have completed in the past will be provided.) The balance of your grade (30%) will be based upon a unit plan, including a very detailed narrative lesson plan for one day, and a presentation of that lesson (which must be filmed and posted online or submitted on a CD). You may borrow video equipment from media services in the library if you do not own any. You may choose to present your lesson to WPU students if you are unable to obtain permission to film in your practicum or student teaching setting. Do begin to think about this part of the assignment EARLY in the semester; visit media services, check with your cooperating teacher about filming in the classroom, etc. You will also need to think about arranging for someone to film the lesson.
How to Access Blackboard: To log on to Bb point your web browser to http://bb.wpunj.edu and click the Login button in the upper left. Then enter your username and password in the spaces provided and click login again -- you'll find your course Bb sites listed on the right.
Some things to be aware of as you work with Blackboard:
WPUNJ Student Email: To access WPUNJ Student Email point your web browser to http://wpconnect.wpunj.edu, enter your username and password, and then select the Mail tab. If you are logging on for the first time you'll be asked to set your time zone and language.
Blackboard courses will use student email; third-party email addresses will not work on Bb
Good luck and have fun in the course!
n Betsy Golden
William Paterson University
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, New Jersey 07470
973-720-2000
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