Urban Specialists Cohort One
Contact Person(s): Dr. Lester Knight & Dr. Cheryl
Kershaw
Academic Discipline: Teacher Education
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor(s): TBA
Projected Dates for Session: Start: July 22, 2002
..............................................End:
May 14, 2003
Total Number of Days: Approximately 10 months
Total Number of Contact Hours: 50
Description of Course:
Coursework will focus on several areas that influence
teachers' impact on teaching and learning in urban contexts:
understanding the diverse needs of learners; developing
a repertoire of culturally relevant teaching strategies;
and developing "accommodation" strategies to
address the varied needs of learners within urban classrooms.
UT faculty along with Knox County Schools faculty will
discuss special education policies, regulations, and laws;
strategies for dealing with special needs children in
regular classrooms; communicating with families; involving
human services agencies in supporting educators' endeavors;
and working with community leaders to understand the needs
of the whole child. This course provides an opportunity
to integrate special education, human services, and urban
issues in formulating plans to assure that all children
are learning to their potential.
Activities in which the participants will be engaged
will be aligned with performance assessments required
by National Board Certification standards. Participants
will be pre-assessed to determined areas of strength and
areas to be strengthened to improve student learning in
urban school settings. College of Education faculty will
team with appropriate Arts and Sciences faculty in developing
content-based strategies to address identified participant
needs.
During the Summer Institute, held primarily at South-Doyle
Middle School, initial conceptual frameworks will be developed.
Sessions throughout the year will be held at each participant's
school. Since this is the second year of a two year cohort
program, all classes and activities will be tailored to
the needs of the cohort group.
