Endorsements

·     Foundations of reading

·     Content area reading

·     Assessment and diagnosis of reading problems

·     Developmental and remedial reading instruction and support

·     Developmental and remedial materials and resources

·     Literature appropriate to students across all grade levels

The Reading Teacher endorsement may be granted only within the grade range of the certificate held.

The Illinois State Board of Education gives the guidelines for Reading Teacher Endorsement: http://www.isbe.net/certification/requirements/endorsement_assignment.htm. To determine which courses are needed for a Reading Teacher Endorsement, please contact your Regional Office of Education (ROE) and request a Reading Teacher Endorsement Evaluation. After you receive your evaluation please contact the McKendree Office of Graduate Admission and they can inform you which courses fulfill the requirements.

For more information contact: Sabrina Storner, Director of Graduate Admissions at (618) 537-6477or by email at skstorner@mckendree.edu.

Program Features

·     Experience instruction that builds on sound theory, practical application, and a strong philosophy about the importance of teaching, learning, and school improvement.

·     Work with an outstanding university faculty and exemplary leaders in the field.

·     Earn the reputation of being one of the highly respected and best educators in the region.

·     Earn your degree from a nationally accredited School of Education.

·     Enjoy small classes, collegial relationships, and a caring and committed faculty.

·     A campus and cohort designed to build networking capabilities for the future.

·     Dynamic campus and cohort designed to provide continuity and colleague support.

Proposed Course of Study – Reading Teacher
          

Reading Teacher Endorsement courses (completion of these courses plus the Illinois Reading Teacher Content Area Test will meet the Illinois State Board of Education requirements for the Reading Teacher Endorsement)
EDU 329	Children’s Literature*	3
EDU 412/512	Methods of Teaching Reading in the Content Area*	3
EDU 430/530	Reading in the Elementary School*	3
EDR 601 Or EDR 635	Emergent Literacy Or Survey of Reading Methods and Materials K-12	3
EDR 610	Adolescent Literature	3
EDR 621	Classroom Diagnostic Techniques and Testing Procedures for the Teaching of Reading	3
EDR 622	Advanced Diagnostic Techniques and Testing Procedures for the Teaching of Reading	3
EDR 697	Practicum in Reading	3
Total Credits = 24

* These courses may have been completed as part of your undergraduate degree program.

Endorsement – Middle School

McKendree offers Middle School Endorsement classes at the undergraduate and graduate level for teachers with either elementary or secondary education certificates who wish to teach in departmentalized grade 5 through grade 8.  Each student must complete additional coursework in the nature and needs of early adolescents and middle school philosophy, curriculum and instructional methods.

Proposed Course of Study – Middle School

Eighteen (18) semester hours in the subject matter area of major teaching assignment (e.g., language arts, general science, social science, music, etc.).  To add a middle school endorsement in mathematics, the 18 hours must be in specific coursework.  In addition to the above, the following coursework is required to add any middle school endorsement.

EDU 403/503	Middle School Philosophy and Practices	3
EDU 404/504	Early Adolescents and Schooling	3

Endorsement – Special Education

The Special Education Endorsement is designed for certified elementary and secondary teachers who would like to begin working in the Special Education field. Students will be required to complete field experience hours as indicated by course descriptions.

In order to receive an endorsement in special Education, the following must be met:

1.     Current Illinois Teacher’s Certification

2.     Passing scores on the ICTS Content Test(s)

3.     Completion of any deficiencies in tests or coursework

4.     Completion of the following sequence of courses

Course Descriptions

SPE 689 Foundations of Special Education (3 hours)

The study of philosophical, historical, and legal foundations of special education.   The investigation of the progression of service delivery models from segregation to inclusive settings and the self-determination of persons with disabilities across the lifespan.

SPE 690 Characteristics of Students with Disabilities (3 hours) 

The study of cognitive, motor, behavioral, and physical development as well as etiologies and medical conditions. Candidates will have experiences with students with disabilities regarding their characteristics, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, community integration and vocational options.

SPE 692 Diagnostic Assessment for Educational Decision-Making (3 hours) 

The intensive theoretical and practical study of the instruments and processes used for non-discriminatory evaluation of students with disabilities in the areas of academic, social and vocational function. Candidates will study analysis of test construction, considerations of legal and ethical issues in the administration of specified tests and the interpretation of various scores.

SPE 694 Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities (3 hours) 

The examination and implementation of research-based effective strategies and materials for teaching students with disabilities in the areas of academic, social and vocational function, with emphasis on transfer and generalization in inclusive settings, including physical and academic prompts and adaptations. Focus on IEP development, responsive to Illinois Learning Standards and indicative of assessments including Illinois Alternative Assessment.

SPE 694a Field Experience III (0 hours)

This course will be taken concurrently with SPE 694. Students will complete thirty field observation hours in a public school special education program. Students will be assigned to a placement by the University. Field Experience III will be primarily observation; however, teachers may ask pre-teacher candidates to assist students, tutor, grade papers, or assist in teaching lessons. Two supervised observations will be required.  The focus of Field Experience III will be in the area of Teaching Methods in Special Education. This is a 16 week course.

This endorsement will allow the individual to teach Special Education in the areas in which they are already certified to teach.