Academic Intervention

Catalog description

Most referrals to school psychologists involve some sort of learning problem. What variables affect school learning? Are some influences more important than others? Which of these influences are alterable and therefore available as interventions to improve learning? What classroom strategies work best? We will examine theories of school learning and the basic psychological principles that apply to teaching and learning. This will be accomplished through the examination of the role of teachers, which includes their responsibility for teaching curriculum, classroom management, and the social and emotional growth of students. Students will learn to critically evaluate the instruction provided to a particular student in a given content area. In addition, students will learn to assess academic functioning within the learning environment, identify specific target areas for intervention, set appropriate goals and objectives, monitor student progress toward those goals and objectives, and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention(s) in place as a result of the assessment. Students are expected to leave this course with a cursory understanding of the problem-solving process and the development and monitoring of effective interventions, and basic competence in applying this process.