Special Education

Students enrolled in the special education program are in Purdue's College of Education.  Students in this program will earn a dual license in special education (P-12) and elementary education:   

Students in this program progress through Blocks I - V  as well as methods courses in special education that build upon each other and culminate in student teaching.  Four strands are prevalent in these performance based courses throughout teacher education. These strands are technology, diversity, portfolio and theory into practice.

Block I  ||  Block II  || Block III  || Block IV || Block V || Methods

Block I Fall 2009

Important Dates
Confirmation of Placements (September 7-18)
Principal Orientations (September 21-24)
First Official Visit (September 28 - October 1)

Contacts
Prof. JoAnn Phillion (EDCI 205 Coordinator)
Ed Wiercioch (Block I Placement Coordinator)
Instructors

Suggested Activities List
Student Appraisal Form
 

EDCI 205 - Exploring Teaching as a Career (3 credit hours)
EDCI 285 - Multiculturalism and Education (PDF)(3 credit hours)

• Students are generally placed in pairs in classrooms in the local area
• Students participate in the classroom experience for 14 - 16 hours, 2 hours per week         
    

Purpose of Block I: To introduce the field of teaching by having the students examine issues from a teacher's perspective, and focus on how and why multiculturalism influences education.

List of Block I schools and links to their websites. (PDF)

Block II Fall 2009

Important Dates
Confirmation of Placements (September 7-18)
Principal Orientations (September 21-24)
First Official Visit (September 28 - October 1)

Contacts
Dr. Lisa Bohlin (Block II Coordinator)
Ed Wiercioch (Block II Placement Coordinator)

 
EDPS 235 - Learning and Motivation (PDF) (3 credit hours)
EDPS 265 - Inclusive Classroom (PDF) (3 credit hours)

• Students are placed in the local area individually or in pairs based on the cooperating teacher preference.
• Students participate in the classroom experience for 14-16 hours, 2 hours per week.    

List of Block II schools and links to their websites: (PDF)

Block III Fall 2009

Important Dates
First School Visit (August 30 - September 3)

Contacts
Dr. Chrystal Johnson (EDCI 361 Coordinator)
Dr. Beverly Cox (EDCI 362 Coordinator)

EDCI 361 - Social Studies in the Elementary School (PDF) (3 credit hours)
EDCI 362 - Literacy in the Elementary School (PDF) (3 credit hours)

• Students are generally placed in groups of two or three in classrooms in the local area
• Students participate in the classroom experience at a local school for 1 full school day per week throughout the semester.
• Purdue course instruction as well as field experience are completed at a Block III host school.

Purpose of Block III:  To study how children learn to read and write and the teacher's role in this process. To allow students the opportunity to perform best practice strategies for social studies and literacy.

List of Block III schools and links to their websites: (PDF)

Block IV Fall 2009

Important Dates
First School Visit (September 8 -10)

Contacts
Dr. Carol Hopkins (EDCI 363 Coordinator)
Dr. Susan Britsch (EDCI 370 Coordinator)
Ed Wiercioch (Block IV Placement Coordinator)

EDCI 363 Literacy in the Elementary School II (3 credit hours)
EDCI 370 English as a New Language (3 credit hours)

1. Students are generally placed in groups of two or three in classrooms in the local area.
2. For EDCI 363, students participate in the classroom experience 2 days per week for 2 hours each day. The experience generally begins the third week of the semester.
3. For EDCI 370, students are placed in a local elementary classroom for 4-5 mornings or afternoons. 

Purpose of Block IV:  To focus on teaching children who experience difficulties acquiring literacy and students who are not native speakers of English.

List of Block IV schools and links to their websites: (PDF)

Block V - Fall 2009

Important Dates
First School Visit (September 8 -10)

Contacts
Dr. Andrew Tyminski (EDCI 364 Coordinator) 
Dr. Brenda Capobianco (EDCI 365 Coordinator)
Dr. Marcia Gentry (EDPS 430 Coordinator)
Ed Wiercioch (Block V Placement Coordinator)

EDCI 364 Math in the Elementary School (3 credit hours) 
EDCI 365 Science in the Elementary School (3 credit hours)
EDPS 430 Creating and Managing Learning Environments (3 credit hours) 

• Each student visits a classroom 2 hours per week for 8 weeks.

Purpose of Block V: To allow students the opportunity to perform best practice strategies for teaching math and science in the classroom by teaching lessons. 

List of Block V schools and links to their websites: (PDF)

Methods

EDPS 461: Practicum in Strategies for Teaching Individuals with Disabilities (PDF) (3 credit hours)

• Students are usually assigned to work in classrooms in the local area for 48 hours.
• Students are generally placed in Tippecanoe County schools.

Purpose of the course: To provide students with direct practical experience in assessment and teaching of individuals with special needs. Applications of the instructional strategies covered in previous course work will be undertaken. Experience in the design, delivery, implementation and evaluation of instruction will occur throughout the course.