Courtney Hansen's Master's of Art in Education Annotated Transcript
Spring 2012
TE 842: Elementary Reading Assessment and Instruction
-Maria Protacio
This class focused on how to best teach reading and then how students can be assessed in their reading skills. As a lower elementary school teacher, I my job is to teach students how to read before we can jump into teaching reading, students need to have a solid foundation of phonemic awareness and word attack skills so they can first make sense of the words on the page before we start working on making inferences and predictions about the character's feelings. We also looked at some of the reasons students struggle with reading and what can be done to help support those students at school as well as at home so students enjoy reading if not love reading. One of the interesting things we looked at over the course was different programs or methods that can be used to help teach students how to read. We examined a variety of programs and were able to share and discuss which programs we thought were able to help make the most growth in specific areas (phonemic awareness, fluency, phonics, etc.) and which we thought our students would respond the best to.
TE 846: Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners
-Kevin Holohan
This class focused on students who were struggling in literacy and what teachers in the general education classroom can do to not only support those learners at their level but to help get those students closer to grade level if not above grade level in their reading skills. We looked at types of things can cause a student to not have the same type of growth as their peers, either physically or emotionally based, and what can be done in those situations for the student. One of the most beneficial assignments we did in class was to select a student who was struggling and do a case study on that child. I was able to select a child and use some of the ideas we had discussed in class to help that student reach grade level proficiency in literacy by the end of the school year.
Fall 2012
CEP 832: Educating Students with Challenging Behaviors
-Dr. Jana Aupperlee
This class focused on students with extremely challenging behaviors. We examined a variety of scenarios and then in small groups discussed what the possible cause of this issue may be and what we general education classroom teachers we would do to support that student's learning and understanding but that of the entire classroom's as well. Having the opportunity to work with the same small group of students as we discussed these case studies allowed us to really dig deep into the information we had and find different ways to work with that type of student. One of the most interesting things from this class was the case study we did following a student or child of our own that had some behavior issues. Being able to observe these behaviors with a purpose allowed a new perspective for viewing this student and I was able to find new strategies to work with that student that I could apply to other students as well.
Spring 2013
ED 800: Concepts of Educational Inquiry
-Dr. Steven Weiland
This course focused on the history of education and how it has changed over decades and centuries and how it differs from one culture to another. Even in modern times it is interesting to compare the values one group focuses on in their culture's education and how that differs from place to place. Education is becoming larger as more and more opportunities are given to students with new technologies (internet being one of the more important and largest opportunities to share) but smaller at the same time as we become more focused on what we now at this moment and not remembering the types of education that were given years and years ago. As the times change, so do the learners and the subjects at hand. One of the interesting aspects of this class was to compare a different current culture to our own and examine the similarities and differences in their views on education.
CEP 801A: Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education
-Dr. Carol Englert
-Rachel Kopke
This class focused on how to best serve special education students. While each student we encounter need specific or unique support along the way, special education students need a little extra support to ensure they are working and succeeding to their personal best levels. These students work and interact with so many different teachers and specialists that we sometimes focus on the one specific part of the student we are working on and not pay as much attention or time to the student as a whole. We examined case studies and looked at different ways teachers, staff, and parents can work together to ensure the best possible results for the student. One of the biggest ideas that I took away from this class was looking at the student as a whole and preparing for the future not just the present. When teachers and staff work together and use common items to help students, such as an IEP or a behavior plan or a transition plan, the student is better set up for success and will be able to reach any goal he or she may have with the help of all of the teachers and staff behind him or her.
Fall 2013
TE 849: Methods and Materials for Teaching Children's and Adolescent Literature
-Dr. Laura Apol
This class focused on children's and adolescent literature and how to incorporate literature into other subject matters. One of the most important themes of the class was choosing literature. What criteria do you use to choose one book from another? How can you ensure that the information in a book is as accurate as possible? The central theme of the books we read for this class were American Indians and their culture. It was very interesting and enlightening to examine books on the same topic and see how the author and the author's experiences shaped the book and the story it told. We examined books by American Indian authors and compared those to written by American authors who were of European descent. One of the most important messages I took away from the class was that teachers must choose literature wisely and find and use books that are as authentic as possible to give the readers as true and as meaningful experience as possible.
Summer 2014
CEP 840: Policies, Practices, and Perspectives in Special Education
-Dr. Carol Englert
This class focused on working with special education students in general education classrooms and finding the best supports for them so they could thrive and grow as learners. Part of the focus of the class was researching different learning disabilities and finding different types of assistive technology for students to use in the classroom. Not only did I learn about a variety of the more common learning disabilities teachers work with, I was given a huge amount of information about how to support that student in the classroom. While each child comes to school with their own history and set of experiences, after this class I feel more confident in my ability to help and support all students and give them what they need to be as successful as they possibly can be. One of the most important parts of the class for me was, with a partner, completing an Individual Education Plan (IEP). As a general education teacher I had sat in on IEP meetings and offered my input many times but I had never had to create an IEP before. After completing an IEP with a partner I feel more confident in my ability to work more closely with special education teachers and offer more insightful and useful information.
CEP 841: Class and Behavior Management in the Inclusive Classroom
-Dr. Troy Mariage
This class focused on classroom management and discipline in the regular education classroom. We spent a while discussing the differences between management and discipline and what those two entities look like in a classroom. Once we had an understanding of those concepts we were able to look at how special education students act and interact in a classroom and what supports and accommodations they may need to be successful while still being a respectful, working member of the class. As the class went on, I began to realize that while some of the strategies may be geared toward special needs students, all students can benefit from the majority of these strategies.
Fall 2014
ED 870: Capstone Seminar
-Dr. Matthew Koehler
This class has focused on examining all that we have learned and experienced in our master's program and creating a sort of cohesive understanding that reaches over all of the courses that have combined to make our program. As the classes in the program are selected by the student based on their interests, each master's program is as unique as the student behind the classes. Looking at all of the courses will help to to get a better view of all that we have learned and accomplished ovOer the semesters we have been working. One of the results of this class is an ePortfolio that will help show all that we have done not just in this class but over the entire course of our program. Working on this portfolio has helped me become more aware of the technologies that are available for teachers and how there are many ways for teachers to communicate and interact with their students and the families of those students.
Summer 2015 (Projected)
CEP 850: Technology and Literacy for Students with Mild Disabilities
-Dr. Cindy Okolo
TE 842: Elementary Reading Assessment and Instruction
-Maria Protacio
This class focused on how to best teach reading and then how students can be assessed in their reading skills. As a lower elementary school teacher, I my job is to teach students how to read before we can jump into teaching reading, students need to have a solid foundation of phonemic awareness and word attack skills so they can first make sense of the words on the page before we start working on making inferences and predictions about the character's feelings. We also looked at some of the reasons students struggle with reading and what can be done to help support those students at school as well as at home so students enjoy reading if not love reading. One of the interesting things we looked at over the course was different programs or methods that can be used to help teach students how to read. We examined a variety of programs and were able to share and discuss which programs we thought were able to help make the most growth in specific areas (phonemic awareness, fluency, phonics, etc.) and which we thought our students would respond the best to.
TE 846: Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners
-Kevin Holohan
This class focused on students who were struggling in literacy and what teachers in the general education classroom can do to not only support those learners at their level but to help get those students closer to grade level if not above grade level in their reading skills. We looked at types of things can cause a student to not have the same type of growth as their peers, either physically or emotionally based, and what can be done in those situations for the student. One of the most beneficial assignments we did in class was to select a student who was struggling and do a case study on that child. I was able to select a child and use some of the ideas we had discussed in class to help that student reach grade level proficiency in literacy by the end of the school year.
Fall 2012
CEP 832: Educating Students with Challenging Behaviors
-Dr. Jana Aupperlee
This class focused on students with extremely challenging behaviors. We examined a variety of scenarios and then in small groups discussed what the possible cause of this issue may be and what we general education classroom teachers we would do to support that student's learning and understanding but that of the entire classroom's as well. Having the opportunity to work with the same small group of students as we discussed these case studies allowed us to really dig deep into the information we had and find different ways to work with that type of student. One of the most interesting things from this class was the case study we did following a student or child of our own that had some behavior issues. Being able to observe these behaviors with a purpose allowed a new perspective for viewing this student and I was able to find new strategies to work with that student that I could apply to other students as well.
Spring 2013
ED 800: Concepts of Educational Inquiry
-Dr. Steven Weiland
This course focused on the history of education and how it has changed over decades and centuries and how it differs from one culture to another. Even in modern times it is interesting to compare the values one group focuses on in their culture's education and how that differs from place to place. Education is becoming larger as more and more opportunities are given to students with new technologies (internet being one of the more important and largest opportunities to share) but smaller at the same time as we become more focused on what we now at this moment and not remembering the types of education that were given years and years ago. As the times change, so do the learners and the subjects at hand. One of the interesting aspects of this class was to compare a different current culture to our own and examine the similarities and differences in their views on education.
CEP 801A: Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education
-Dr. Carol Englert
-Rachel Kopke
This class focused on how to best serve special education students. While each student we encounter need specific or unique support along the way, special education students need a little extra support to ensure they are working and succeeding to their personal best levels. These students work and interact with so many different teachers and specialists that we sometimes focus on the one specific part of the student we are working on and not pay as much attention or time to the student as a whole. We examined case studies and looked at different ways teachers, staff, and parents can work together to ensure the best possible results for the student. One of the biggest ideas that I took away from this class was looking at the student as a whole and preparing for the future not just the present. When teachers and staff work together and use common items to help students, such as an IEP or a behavior plan or a transition plan, the student is better set up for success and will be able to reach any goal he or she may have with the help of all of the teachers and staff behind him or her.
Fall 2013
TE 849: Methods and Materials for Teaching Children's and Adolescent Literature
-Dr. Laura Apol
This class focused on children's and adolescent literature and how to incorporate literature into other subject matters. One of the most important themes of the class was choosing literature. What criteria do you use to choose one book from another? How can you ensure that the information in a book is as accurate as possible? The central theme of the books we read for this class were American Indians and their culture. It was very interesting and enlightening to examine books on the same topic and see how the author and the author's experiences shaped the book and the story it told. We examined books by American Indian authors and compared those to written by American authors who were of European descent. One of the most important messages I took away from the class was that teachers must choose literature wisely and find and use books that are as authentic as possible to give the readers as true and as meaningful experience as possible.
Summer 2014
CEP 840: Policies, Practices, and Perspectives in Special Education
-Dr. Carol Englert
This class focused on working with special education students in general education classrooms and finding the best supports for them so they could thrive and grow as learners. Part of the focus of the class was researching different learning disabilities and finding different types of assistive technology for students to use in the classroom. Not only did I learn about a variety of the more common learning disabilities teachers work with, I was given a huge amount of information about how to support that student in the classroom. While each child comes to school with their own history and set of experiences, after this class I feel more confident in my ability to help and support all students and give them what they need to be as successful as they possibly can be. One of the most important parts of the class for me was, with a partner, completing an Individual Education Plan (IEP). As a general education teacher I had sat in on IEP meetings and offered my input many times but I had never had to create an IEP before. After completing an IEP with a partner I feel more confident in my ability to work more closely with special education teachers and offer more insightful and useful information.
CEP 841: Class and Behavior Management in the Inclusive Classroom
-Dr. Troy Mariage
This class focused on classroom management and discipline in the regular education classroom. We spent a while discussing the differences between management and discipline and what those two entities look like in a classroom. Once we had an understanding of those concepts we were able to look at how special education students act and interact in a classroom and what supports and accommodations they may need to be successful while still being a respectful, working member of the class. As the class went on, I began to realize that while some of the strategies may be geared toward special needs students, all students can benefit from the majority of these strategies.
Fall 2014
ED 870: Capstone Seminar
-Dr. Matthew Koehler
This class has focused on examining all that we have learned and experienced in our master's program and creating a sort of cohesive understanding that reaches over all of the courses that have combined to make our program. As the classes in the program are selected by the student based on their interests, each master's program is as unique as the student behind the classes. Looking at all of the courses will help to to get a better view of all that we have learned and accomplished ovOer the semesters we have been working. One of the results of this class is an ePortfolio that will help show all that we have done not just in this class but over the entire course of our program. Working on this portfolio has helped me become more aware of the technologies that are available for teachers and how there are many ways for teachers to communicate and interact with their students and the families of those students.
Summer 2015 (Projected)
CEP 850: Technology and Literacy for Students with Mild Disabilities
-Dr. Cindy Okolo