EPI: Educator Prep Institute

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program This course focuses on how to maintain a classroom. Topics include: record keeping, classroom management, school safety, integrating Sunshine State standards into curriculum, development of lesson plans, parent conference management, assessment techniques, implications of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and other standardized tests, professional ethics and school law.

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program This course focuses on proficiency in the application of a variety of instructional strategies. These include multimodal instruction, learning styles knowledge, cooperative and collaborative learning, accommodations for exceptional students, and the infusion of technology into lesson plans.

TECHNOLOGY Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program This course focuses on teaching the participant to employ technology as an integral part of the teaching and learning process. Instruction is provided in commonly-used software suites and on the Internet. Technology and Internet integration into the classroom is emphasized.

TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program This course focuses on instructing the participant in various learning theories as applied in the instructional process. Topics will include learning theories, motivation and persistence, intelligence, exceptionalities, standardized testing, critical thinking, multiple intelligences, and second language acquisition.

FOUNDATIONS OF READING INSTRUCTION Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program This course focuses on developing a substantive understanding of six components of reading as a process: comprehension, oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary.

FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH-BASED PRACTICES IN READING Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program This course focuses on instructing the participant on proper language structure, function and cognition of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This instruction is grounded in scientifically-based research.

PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATIONS Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program This course instructs the participant on the necessary foundation for becoming a productive member of the teaching profession. Topics include history and philosophy of education, school governance, school finance, school law, ethics, purpose of schools, and continuing professional development. A minimum grade of C is required to pass the course.

DIVERSITY Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program This course instructs the participant on the necessary understanding of the variety of backgrounds and cultures that may be found in a typical classroom and how social class, religion, language, gender differences, culture, ethnicity, physical differences, and prejudices affect how students learn. A minimum grade of C is required to pass the course.

TEACHING METHODS FIELD EXPERIENCE Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Institute Program and EPI 0001, EPI 0002, EPI 0003, EPI 0004 This course consists of a (minimum) 30-hour field experience in a public, charter or accredited private school which includes teaching demonstrations. A minimum grade of C is required to pass the course.