GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Instructor

Thomas E. Scruggs, Ph.D.

Professor

Office Hours

T, 2:00 - 4:00

or by appointment

tscruggs@gmu.ed

Robinson B441A

(703) 993-4138

Time, Date & Room

Tuesdays, 4:30 – 7:10p

Robinson B220 click on "EDSE 555"

Class Website

http://mason.gmu.edu/~tscruggs

Language Development and Emerging Literacy is a three credit-hour course required for state teacher licensure in special education (ED/LD) in Virginia. EDSE 555 is intended for students who are preparing to become special education teachers, K-12. However, the course could be of benefit to anyone intending to work in public schools.

Reviews major theories and stages of normal language development. The course provides an overview of language disorders associated with various handicapping conditions, techniques of language assessment, and strategies for intervention in oral and written language.

Students will be able to:

Describe the theories and stages of normal language development.

Describe the nature, function, and rules of language.

Describe disorders and deviations in language and related areas.

Describe relevant curriculum materials and their purposes

Implement appropriate instruction in oral language, reading, writing, and spelling for students with learning and behavioral disabilities.

This course is part of the George Mason University, Graduate School of education, Special Education Program for teacher licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the special education areas of Emotional Disturbance and Learning Disabilities. This program complies with the standards for teacher licensure established by the Council for Exceptional children, the major special education professional organization. As such, the learning objectives for this course cover many of the competencies for language development and emerging literacy for individuals with emotional disturbances and learning disabilities.

The CEC Standards are listed on the following web site: http://www.cec.sped.org/ps/perf_based_stds/common_core_4-21-01.html

CEC standards that will be addressed in this class include some of the following:

Standard 4 - Instructional Strategies
Skills:

· Use strategies to facilitate integration into various settings.

· Teach individuals to use self-assessment, problem solving, and other cognitive strategies to meet their needs.

· Select, adapt, and use instructional strategies and materials according to characteristics of the individual with exceptional            learning needs.

· Use strategies to facilitate maintenance and generalization of skills across learning environments.

· Use procedures to increase the individual’s self-awareness, self-management, self-control, self-reliance, and self-esteem.

· Use strategies that promote successful transitions for individuals with exceptional learning needs.

Standard 6 - Language

· Effects of cultural and linguistic differences on growth and development.

· Characteristics of one’s own culture and use of language and the ways in which these can differ from other cultures and            uses of languages

· Ways of behaving and communicating among cultures that can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding.

· Augmentative, alternative, and assistive communication strategies.

· Use strategies to support and enhance communication skills of individuals with exceptional learning needs.

· Use communication strategies and resources to facilitate understanding of subject matter for students whose primary language is not the dominant language.

Learning activities include the following:

Class lecture, discussion, and participation.

Videotape, audiotape and other relevant media presentations.

Study and independent library research.

Applications involving use and evaluation of relevant curriculum materials.

Class presentations.

Written research papers or strategy implementation projects.

Polloway, E.A., & Smith, T. C. (1999). Language instruction for students with disabilities (2nd ed., revised). Denver: Love.

Class attendance and participation (10 points; excessive absences may receive additional penalties)

Mid-term exam (25 points)

Application/research paper (30 points)

Paper presentation (10 points)

Final exam (25 points)

Total points = 100

Points will be deducted for work submitted late.

95 -100 = A

90 - 94 = A-

80 - 89 = B

70 - 79 = C

60 - 69 = D

< 60 = F

Exam will cover specific aspects of the nature, function, and rules of language, as well as development and deviations in these areas. Exam will also cover basic rules of phonics. I will provide a detailed study guide for this exam to help direct your studying.

Option 1: Choose a research article from a professional journal (e.g., Journal of Special Education) describing an intervention on some type of language (oral language, reading, handwriting, writing, spelling). (Some recommended articles are available on reserve; Also, I will be happy to help you find one). Describe this article, then implement this intervention in your own class and describe the results. Your paper should describe the participants (students), method (including materials and procedures), and results (e.g., results of pre-post testing and student opinion survey). You need not replicate exactly the conditions of the article. Paper should be 10-15 pages in length.

Option 2: Choose an area relevant to language functioning (oral language, reading, handwriting, writing, spelling), and write a paper describing interventions involving students with learning or behavioral disorders. The paper must include 10 references, 7 of which must provide original empirical data. (I will be happy to help you find articles, examples are available on reserve or electronic reserve). It should include Introduction, Description of Studies, Summary, Conclusions, Implications for Practice. Paper should be 10-15 pages in length.

For either option, inform me of your topic (or ask for suggestions) before you begin. Many relevant articles are listed under "References" on the webpage, and several are held in reserve in the Johnson Center Library. Either paper should employ APA format (see APA Publication Manual for title page, references, and subheadings.

http://humanities.byu.edu/linguistics/Henrichsen/APA/APA01.html and http://www.psywww.com/resource/apacrib.htm are links to APA format and guidelines; http://library.gmu.edu for data searches. I recommend PSYCinfo or ERIC databases.

Present your paper/project succinctly in a 10-minute presentation. Turn in copies of overheads, handouts, and summaries. Evaluation will be based on content, organization, use of overheads and other media, and presentation style.

This exam will focus on teaching applications for various areas of oral and written language. Emphasis will be on practical application of course material in addressing language-based problems in school functioning.