KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM PROPOSAL
Cover Sheet for Category 3 (Teacher Preparation) Proposals
Course Number/Minor Name/Program Name: ECE 7730 – Development of Language and
Literacy Skills
Department: Elementary and Early Childhood Education____________________
Degree Title (if applicable) M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education with a Montessori Early
Childhood Education 2.5-6 Year Level Concentration
Proposed Effective Date _______Spring 2006_____________________________
Check One or More of the Following and Complete the Appropriate Sections
__ X_New Course Proposal
_____Delete Course From Catalog
__ __Course Title Change
_____Course Number Change
__ __Course Credit Change
_____Course Prerequisite Change
_____Course Description Change
_____Change in Program/Degree Requirements
_____New Concentration Proposal
_____New Program Proposal
Sections to be Completed
II, III, IV, V, VII
I
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
VI
VIII
*If proposed changes to an existing course are substantial (credit hours, title, and description), a
new course with a new number should be proposed.
**A new Course Proposal (Sections II, III, IV, V, VII) is required for each new course proposed
as part of the program. Current catalog information (Section I) is required for each existing
course incorporated into the program.
Submitted by: Feland L. Meadows, Ph.D.
Sep. 30, 2005_
Faculty Member
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Department Curriculum Committee***
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
PTEU Program Area Committee***
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Dept. Chair Responsible for the Course/Program Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Teacher Education Council
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Dean, School of Education
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
GPCC Chair
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Dean, Graduate Studies
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
President
Date
***The Department Curriculum Committee and PTEU Program Faculty evaluate a proposal
collectively.
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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM PROPOSAL
I. Current Information (Fill in for changes)
Page Number in Current Catalog _______XX________________
Course Prefix and Number _________XXXX____________
Course Title :
XXXXX
Credit Hours: _______xxx___________________
Prerequisites: XXX ____________________________
Description (or Current Degree Requirements): xxx
II. Proposed Information (Fill in for changes and new courses)
Course Prefix and Number __ECE 7730________________
Course Title : Development of Language and Literacy Skills
Credit Hours 3____________
Prerequisites __Admission to M.Ed. Program_____________
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
The structured sequence of language activities offered in this Montessori Teacher Education
course will prepare students to help children achieve maximum development of language and
literacy skills. Students will learn to provide children with vocabulary building opportunities by
introducing classified vocabulary related to the child’s life experiences at home, in school and in
the community. The classified nomenclature of Geography, Zoology, History, Science and the
Arts will also expand the child’s vocabulary and world view. Students will use research based
key words and other materials to help children develop phonemic awareness and to achieve
sound-symbol association. Students will learn to present writing activities which facilitate the
development of skills in reading.
III. Justification
The natural approach to first and second language acquisition is not widely known or practiced in
either public elementary schools or early learning centers. For all practical purposes it is
completely unknown to most childcare providers. Thus, the presentation of the scientific
foundations for the effective acquisition of first and second language and literacy skills by young
children is an essential element to be imparted to students in this program. Students need to
understand the importance of helping children to develop phonemic awareness, and how to do
that effectively. They also need to discover how young children can be helped to develop writing
skills which will lead to their discovering the synthesis of reading for themselves. This course
will also help students to master a research based, language arts program that is integrated with
the content areas of Geography, Biology, Social Studies and the Arts. They will master and
present a structured sequence of activities which make it possible for children to achieve
maximum development of language and literacy skills while building vocabulary, developing
classified nomenclature and learning concepts related to the content areas of the program.
IV. Additional Information (for New Courses Only)
Attach Syllabus/Course Outline
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Second Phase of the Early Childhood, (2.5 – 6) Level Track of the M.Ed. Program
Instructor:
Feland Meadows, Ph.D.
Texts:
Dolson, David P. Ed. 1986. Schooling and Language Minority Students: A Theoretical
Framework. Los Angeles, CA: Evaluation, California State University, Los Angeles.
Flesch, Rudolf 1981 Why Johnny Still Can’t Read – A new look at the scandal of our schools.
N.Y.: Harper and Row, Colophon Books.
Lillard, A.S. 2005 Montessori, the Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.
Montessori, Maria 1994. The Absorbent Mind. Oxford, England: Clio Press.
Montessori, Maria 1995. The Discovery of the Child. Oxford, England: Clio Press.
Pinker, Steven 1994. The Language Instinct. New York, N.Y.:William Morrow & Company Inc.
Spalding, Romalda B. 1990. The Writing Road to Reading, New York, N.Y.: Harper-Collins
Additional readings in selected texts from the bibliography will be assigned.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, candidates will:
1. demonstrate skill in the facilitation of language acquisition and the development of literacy;
2. understand and assist the process of second language acquisition;
3. demonstrate skill in the presentation of a structured sequence of developmentally appropriate
language materials and activities which make it possible for children to achieve maximum
development of language and literacy skills;
5. demonstrate skill in giving 217 presentations with 88 manipulative English language materials;
Candidates will also:
1. demonstrate their ability to design the learning environment by ordering and structuring the
language materials correctly on the classroom shelves;
2. demonstrate their ability to diagnose the developmental needs of children they observe;
3. correctly present the developmentally appropriate language materials in the correct sequence to
children in the classroom.
Instructional Method:
A theoretical framework for understanding the process of first and second language acquisition
will be presented and discussed. Strategies for the presentation of each material will be modeled
by the Instructor and other faculty. Students will have hands-on experience with materials and
will receive student manuals which they will complete after observing the modeling of
presentations by the instructor. Instructional strategies include readings, lectures, group
discussions, text reviews, audio-visual presentations, individual and group assignments, modeling
of teaching strategies, presentation of materials and independent research. Students will observe
children of various ages and stages of development in the classroom working with the language
materials. Students will have ample opportunities to observe and interact with children during
their fieldwork experience.
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Method of Evaluation:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge of how to design the learning environment by ordering
the language materials in the correct sequences on the classroom shelves. Students will present
the developmentally appropriate language materials in the correct sequence to the instructor.
Students will document their understanding of the process through which the acquisition of
language and literacy skills takes place in a final examination. Students will be observed during
their fieldwork experience to record their competency in presenting language materials and
activities to children at the appropriate times in their development. Each candidate’s culminating
evaluation will occur during the Third Phase, Module VI of the program when s/he will
demonstrate competence in presenting randomely selected materials to a virtual child and will
submit a final portfolio of materials which demonstrates a thorough understanding of the concepts
and practices acquired in the program.
V. Resources and Funding Required (New Courses Only)
Resource
Amount **
Faculty
__________
Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
Specialized funding from Foundations
Total
__________
** All funds to be applied from current masters program budget
Funding Required Beyond Normal Department Growth
__________
Explanation of Resources and Funding Requirements
VII. COURSE MASTER FORM
This form will be completed by the requesting department and will be sent to the Office of the
Registrar once the course has been approved by the Office of the President.
The form is required for all new courses.
DISCIPLINE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE FOR LABEL
(Note: Limit 16 spaces)
Early Childhood Education
_______ECE 7730___________________
Language Dev.
CLASS-LAB-CREDIT HOURS
Approval, Effective Quarter
Grades Allowed (Regular or S/U)
If course used to satisfy CPC, what areas?
Learning Support Programs courses which are
required as prerequisites
3 semester hours
Spring 2006
Regular_____________________
N.A._______________________
N.A.________________________
APPROVED:
__________________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs or Designee
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