The University of Texas at Arlington

Designed to synthesize the sciences of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and exercise physiology, and to integrate the resulting principles with theories of motor learning and motor control as applied to exercise and sport performance. The course specifically aims to help candidates refine their understandings of curriculum theory as it applies to exercise concepts, wellness, outdoor education, and sport pedagogy. It focuses on program planning, instructional impact, organizational strategies, and leadership in secondary physical education settings.

This is an undergraduate course that focuses upon children’s literature. Prospective teachers engage in reading, writing, and discussion to become familiar with quality literature for children as well as sound ways to share literature with children in classrooms.

The rationale and implementation of various instructional methods for English language learners will be discussed. Examination of language instruction for students at different stages of development. Sheltered English instruction for the teaching of content areas will also be presented. Students will be assigned to a special language program to examine methods of instruction and modifications for language minority children.

Service-Learning Project: Putting Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Appropriate Practices into the ‘Learning Zone’

The Arlington Public Library (APL) has experienced an increase in the number of public school students they serve in their ‘Learning Zone,’ a program that aims to provide one-to-one academic support for students in first, second and third grades. The students who attend this program are primarily non-native English speakers (i.e., Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese) whose parents are not proficient enough in English to help them with homework and school-related tasks. Because the shortage of volunteers they have, their program is currently providing these services in groups instead.

This service learning project will thus provide the manpower the APL needs to not only serve the number of students currently enrolled in the program, but to provide one-to-one support for these culturally and linguistically diverse children. Because all the pre-service teachers enrolled in BEEP 4384 are bilingual, there will be opportunities for these children to get academic support in their native language as well. Students will devote at least two hours per week each to volunteer in their program in addition to the time required to prepare for these sessions. As part of this service learning project, we will also identify effective practices currently in place in the ‘Learning Zone’ program, and provide suggestions for making the project better for the community, the parents and the actual children who participate in it.

Effective leadership, instruction, and management strategies for work in diverse educational settings will be covered. The course is designed to provide increased self-awareness and insight into issues of diversity such as culture, ethnicity, exceptionality, gender, language, and socioeconomic status. Demographic issues along with urban and suburban educational settings will also be addressed.

Service-Learning Project: Sustainability and Academic Success: Narrowing the Educational Achievement Gap via Environmentally Conscious Leadership

For select K-12 schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, service learning partners will identify needs for diverse populations at their sites. Participating students will investigate and report on how these needs might be addressed via policy briefs or grant applications for resources. They will also be required to complete critical structured reflections that apply related content from articles, book chapters, and documentaries to their service work experiences in these schools. Assessment of student learning will take into account reflection and application of the material in these educational work settings, whether they are principals or teachers.

Balanced literacy approach to teaching with an emphasis on reading and writing. Theoretical models, principles of teaching reading and writing using a variety of instructional strategies, the role of phonemic awareness, effective program organization, assessment, and classroom management.

This course is a required undergraduate course that focuses on preparation of pre-service teachers to teach reading and writing in their future classrooms.