Special Education Mentored Teaching Capstone ((3 Credits))

Catalog description

Special Education Mentored Teaching Capstone is the final course in a series of four mentored teaching courses in the MAT Trans B Special Education program. The course is designed to develop special education teacher candidates’ repertoire in working with students with disabilities. The candidates will follow the requirements for New York State Initial Teacher Certification as well as the curricular and professional development programs of the school district where they are employed. The teacher candidates will be expected to use evidence-based practices in working with students with disabilities and use methods and materials appropriate to their teaching assignments. This course involves collaboration between the student, course instructor, and field supervisor for in-service mentoring and supervision of teaching. In addition, the course guides students through the process of developing and conducting action research. Guided by the course instructor, students will conduct action research centered around a topic involving students with disabilities. Further, students will write a reflective special education teacher identity and philosophy that is a culmination of their clinical experiences, research, theoretical framework and growth in their teacher education program. Students will articulate and demonstrate their understanding of ethics in assessment and research, critical laws in special education, pedagogical knowledge of teaching exceptional students, behavior management, the role of the special education teacher and collaboration with general education teachers and other school professionals. A final grade of B or better is required to pass this course. A result of less than a B will require a repeat of the course in accordance with the Graduate Evaluation and Grading Policy. Prerequisites: SPED 7030 or SPED 6087 .