University of Maryland - College Park

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Comments on analysis

Courses reviewed: TLPL 460, TLPL 461, TLPL 642, and TLPL 647

The research-based content proven to be necessary for teaching all children to read should be clearly evident in course materials such as lecture topics, assignments and textbooks. All of a program's required reading courses — not just some courses — should impart what is necessary to teach reading.

The program does not meet the standard. Looking at a full range of course materials, there is little or no evidence of adequate instruction on the components of effective reading instruction.

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Comments on analysis

Students cannot excel in mathematics without skillful instruction in the earliest years of school. Teacher candidates generally require three semesters of coursework, complemented by adequate field practice, to progress from a procedural to a conceptual understanding of the essential mathematics topics taught in the elementary grades.

Courses reviewed: MATH 212, MATH 213, MATH 214, and TLPL 607

Through a review of the coursework noted above, the program was found to provide teacher candidates with adequate coverage of numbers & operations, algebra, geometry, and data analysis & probability. The program was also found to require at least three SCHs of coursework focused on the methods of mathematics instruction.

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Comments on analysis

Because they cannot teach what they do not know, teacher candidates need to have content knowledge in English/language arts, social studies, and science. Graduate programs should make sure that their elementary candidates know the subjects they will teach, either by reviewing their transcripts, requiring that they pass rigorous standardized assessments, or requiring that they complete content courses by graduation. If candidates are admitted with deficiencies in content preparation, the program should clearly delineate necessary remediation.

The program meets only a small part of this standard because while its review of applicants' content preparation addresses preparation in all three areas, the requirements fall short of the content elementary teachers need to know in:

• English/Language Arts

Requirements for preparation are very deficient in:

• Social Science
• Science

While the program may require that candidates have coursework in one or more specific topics, more guidance should be provided to prospective candidates about the content preparation that will best serve them in the classroom.