University of Montana

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Comments on analysis

Courses reviewed: EDU 397, and EDU 497

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 meets the standard because its coursework covers all five of the components of effective reading instruction:

• Phonemic Awareness
• Phonics
• Fluency
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension Strategies

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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: M132, M133, M234, EDU 397, and EDU 497

Through a review of the coursework noted above, the program was found to provide teacher candidates with good coverage of numbers & operations, algebra, geometry, and data analysis & probability.

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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 only partly meets this standard because its review of applicants' content preparation adequately addresses preparation in only two areas elementary teachers need to know:

• Social Science
• Science

Requirements for preparation are very deficient in:

• English/Language Arts

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.