Syllabus for ECh 3055 Creative Expressions
(For FORS 4000, 3 cr.)
Spring Semester 2008

Class meeting time:
 Wednesdays 4:15-5:15
Instructor:
 Kim Riordan
Office & phone:
 218 726-7251   Montague 120
Office hours:
 By appointment-please email for available times
e-mail:

kriordan@d.umn.edu

Course Description:

Exploration of developmentally appropriate methods and materials for the integration of art, music and movement experiences for children's overall growth, ages birth-age 8. With a special emphasis on culture, particularly U.S. culture and Irish culture on children's creative expressions.

Required Texts / Readings:

There is no required text. There will be a variety of readings made available each week.

INTASC Standards/MN Standards of Effective Practice Conceptual Framework Themes
  • Standard 1: Subject Matter
  • Standard 2: Student Learning
  • Standard 3: Diverse Learners
  • Standard 4: Instructional Strategies
  • Standard 5: Learning Environment
  • Standard 6: Communication
  • Standard 7: Planning Instruction
  • Standard 8: Assessment
  • Standard 9: Reflection and Professional Development
  • Standard 10: Collaboration, Ethics, and Relationships
  • Diversity (D)
  • Reflection (R)
  • Empowerment (E)
  • Collaboration (C)
  • Technology (T)

Conceptual Framework: Learner-Sensitive Teacher

Course Outcomes:

Outcome INTASC SEP MN ECh Subject Matter Stds. Themes Evidence of Learning
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to nurture the development of student critical thinking, independent problem solving, and performance capabilities.   4. E      
Candidates can demonstrate their knowledge of factors and situations that are likely to promote or diminish intrinsic motivation and how to help students become self-motivated. Further, candidates understand the relationship of intrinsic motivation to student lifelong learning.   5.F      
Candidates can demonstrate their understanding of the value of critical thinking and self-directed learning.   9.F      
Candidates can demonstrate  their ability to assist students in linking new ideas to familiar ideas; make connections to a student's experiences; provide opportunities for active engagement, manipulation, and testing of ideas and materials; and encourage students to assume responsibility for shaping their learning tasks.   2F      
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to develop experiences that encourage initiative, creativity, autonomy, and self-esteem, integrating adult support, comfort and affection to facilitate these aspects of development    

Subp 5

(9) b

   
Candidate can demonstrate their ability to encourage self-expression through developmentally appropriate music, movement, dramatic and creative art experiences.    

Subp 5

(6) g,

   
Candidate can demonstrate their ability to enhance infants' and toddlers' abilities to create their own ideas and solve problems through art, music, movement, dramatic play, and other creative activities.    

Subp 5

(9) a

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to create an environment where infants and toddlers are able to explore and expand their creative abilities.    

Subp 5

(9) c

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to build pre-primary-aged children's confidence, creativity, imagination, personal expression of thoughts and feelings, initiative, and persistence in task completion.    

Subp 6

(8) b

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to encourage pre-primary-aged children to express ideas and feelings.    

Subp 6

(8) c

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to provide pre-primary-aged children with opportunities to use materials in self-selected and self-directed ways.    

Subp 6

(8) d

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to provide pre-primary-aged children with opportunities to use open-ended activites to reinforce positive self-esteem and individuality among children    

Subp 6

(8) e

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to promote shared problem-solving, creativity, and conceptual integration among children.    

Subp 6

(8) f

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to provide primary-aged children with the time, materials, and opportunites to explore, manipulate, and create using a variety of media.    

Subp 7

(8) a

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to provide primary-aged children with experiences producing, discussing, and enjoying various forms of the arts, including visual art, music, creative drama, and dance.    

Subp 7

(8) b

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to enable primary-aged children to understand how the arts represent different ways to perceive and interpret the world.    

Subp 7

(8) c

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to promote primary-aged children's knowledge of various criteria for evaluating the arts    

Subp 7

(8) d

   
Candidates can demonstrate their ability to use a variety of artistic materials and techniques for discussing, experiencing, and thinking about important and interesting questions and phenomena with primary-aged children.    

Subp 7

(8) e

   

 

Dispositions:

Disposition: An habitual tendency or inclination. Disposition includes temperament, character, personality, nature, demeanor - these nouns refer to the sum of traits that identify a person which include frame of mind, emotional characteristics, moral and ethical qualities, distinctive traits that give him/her individuality, especially in his/her relationships with others, exhibited behaviors towards others. The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd College Edition.

In this course, the following dispositions (characteristics) will be targeted:

1. Fosters the development of self-esteem in children.

2. Accept constructive supervision for professional growth.

3. Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability.

4. Take initiative in performing expected duties.

5. Engage in self-reflection to improve teaching and learning

6. Show enthusiasm reflecting a positive attitude.

Instructional Strategies:

Your learning will include small group discussion and activities, videos, textbook reading, individual projects, and field observations

Diversity:

The instructional methods will be designed to be varied in order to meet the needs of all learners.

Course Requirements/Expectations:

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory due to the nature of this course.

Assignments: Assignments are due at assigned dates and times. Due dates are listed on the Class Schedule.

Assessment:

Assignment Quantity Points Total Percent of Grade
Book Bag (synthesized with grad stds, unit plan and lesson plans)   250 250 25%
Correspondence with host student (?)   50 50 5%
Observation summaries 5 10 50 5%
Information Presentation 10 15 150 15%
Field work in Ireland 1 500 500 50%
Total
     1000 100%

Grading:

A=93-100%
A-=90-92%
B+=87-89%
B=83-86%
B-=80-82%
C+=77-79%
C=73-76%
C-=70-72%
D=60-69
F=<60

IMPORTANT: I INVITE ANY OF YOU WHO HAVE ANY DISABILITY, EITHER PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY, OR ANY OTHER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MIGHT AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM IN THIS CLASS TO INFORM ME SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN ADAPT METHODS, MATERIALS, OR ASSIGNMENTS AS NEEDED TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION.

Class Schedule:

Date
Topic
Reading
Assignment due 

Week 1

2/20
Introduction/Overview
Readings will be provided each week

Week 2

2/27
Creativity
.
Information Presentation #1

Week 3

3/5
The Creative Teacher
.
Information Presentation #2

Week 4

3/12
The Role of Play
.
Information Presentation #3

Week 5

3/26
Understanding the Visual Arts
.
Information Presentation #4

Week 6

4/2
Creating Art
.
Information Presentation #5

Week 7

4/9
Music
.
Information Presentation #6

Week 8

4/16
Creative Movement
.
Information Presentation #7

Week 9

4/23
Creative Drama
.
Information Presentation #8

Week 10

4/30
Creativity Across the Curriculum
.
Information Presentation #9

Week 11

5/7
Integrating the Arts
.

Information Presentation #10

Book Bag  due 5/7

Finals Week

5/14
Wrap-up/Planning
.
All Observation Summaries due by 5/14