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Primary-Junior Studies
(EDU 1420)
2000-2001
Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m
Room 2-214, 252 Bloor

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Jackie Eldridge
Room 11-160
Phone: 923-6641 Ext. 2643
Email: etel (Scribe) or jeldridge@oise.utoronto.ca

John Mazurek
Room 11-160
Phone: 923-6641 Exx. 2643
Email: etel (Scribe) or jmazurek@oise.utoronto.ca

Don Fraser
Room: 11-264
Phone: 923-6641 Ext. 7872
Email: etel (Scribe) or dfraser@oise.utoronto.ca

 

The goal of this course is to develop your confidence and proficiency in organizing and managing a rich learning environment for Primary and Junior students.

You will explore instructional approaches that are appropriate for young learners, particularly in the key areas of Language, Mathematics and Music. You will also have an opportunity to consider several important concepts and skills from your TES and Psychology courses – namely, child development, the framing of questions and active participation – as they apply to PJ settings.

Early reading development, including issues of instruction and assessment of young readers, will be investigated. You will also become familiar with Susan Schwartz and Maxine Bone’s "3 R’s," an instructional approach that supports teachers in framing questions and planning meaningful, engaging learning experiences. You will see how the "3 R’s" can be applied effectively to reading and oral language activities, as well as to other aspects of the curriculum. A major focus of the course will be First Steps© Writing. This is a framework that will help you to untangle some of the complexities of children’s writing development and will provide you with practical strategies for identifying and teaching P/J students at various points on that developmental continuum. Spelling and writing assessment issues will also be examined. Mathematics and Music topics in this course will focus exclusively on the Primary division. You will have opportunities during P/J Studies to deepen your understanding of the Ontario Curriculum outcomes for K, and Grades 1-6. You will also explore some appropriate time management and room arrangement practices.

Primary/Junior Studies classes are a component of the Curriculum & Instruction course (EDU 1420), which counts as 2 credits (out of 5) in the B. Ed. program. Other components of the course include your classes in Science, Mathematics, Language, Social Studies, and The Arts. There are no formal assignments in the PJ Studies component, but you are expected to attend all sessions, participate fully in them, and apply your learning during STEP and the practica. A mark for your professionalism pertaining to these contributions, based on the rubric which was distributed in your Registration Day package, will be determined by you, your peers and the instructors. This mark will contribute to your overall score for professionalism, which is 15% of your grade in each of your East Option courses.

 

Tentative Schedule

Date and Topic

Sept. 13 Intro. to course (Jackie & John); Child Development (Jackie)

Sept. 20 Early Reading Development (Jackie)

Sept. 27 "3 R’s" (guest presenter: Susan Schwartz)

Oct. 4 Mathematics in Primary (Don)

Oct. 11 First Steps Writing (John)

Oct. 18 First Steps Writing (John)

Nov. 29 Primary Reading Assessment (Jackie)

Dec. 6 Personal Study

Jan. 10 Mathematics in Primary (Don)

Jan. 17 First Steps Writing (John)

Jan. 24 First Steps Writing (John)

Jan. 31 Writing - Spelling (John)

Feb. 7 Running Records and Reading Recovery (guest presenter: Diane Stuart)

Mar. 28 Personal Study

Apr. 4 Music (guest presenter: Alison Kenny-Gardhouse)

April 11 Music (guest presenter: Alison Kenny-Gardhouse)