Instructional Strategist I
Program Highlights & Benefits
Upon completion, students are recommended for the Instructional Strategist I Endorsement
Convenient online or blended courses structured for working professionals
Innovative curriculum and teaching methods
Basic computer skills required, user friendly format
For
Current teachers interested in teaching and working with students with special needs. These teachers are ready to address social, academic, and behavioral goals of students with mild and moderate disabilities who spend much of their day working with same age peers. This requires teachers to be collaborative partners with colleagues and families.
What You Learn
The Instructional Strategist Endorsement focuses on preparing teachers to work in K-8 or 5-12 mild/moderate instruction settings. Graduates become equipped to work with students using evidence-based practices that meet the needs in rapidly changing school settings. You will learn to create accommodations to enable students to access grade level content. Teachers pursuing this endorsement will learn to pre-teach, teach, and reteach skills in ways that make sense to learners at a wide variety of ability levels. You will learn principles of universal design for learning.
How You Learn
Fully Online: You will log into Blackboard to complete assignments, participate in online discussions, and complete group activities. Some of the activities may include chats, discussion boards, recorded and/or live webinars, and various web links for viewing. The Instructional Strategist I program includes a 40-hour practicum that can often be completed in the teacher’s own building or district. Students will receive regular feedback from a university supervisor on their teaching practices.
Career Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will have earned an endorsement to teach Instructional Strategist I. This qualifies teachers to work with students with mild or moderate disabilities. This may be in a collaborative setting, a classroom, or a special education setting.
Prerequisites
Students applying to this program must hold a baccalaureate degree earned from a regionally accredited institution, a validated minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (Students below 3.0 will be considered for provisional acceptance), and a current or pending license to teach in the state of Iowa.
Degree Requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
| EDGR 531 | Instructional Strategist I Methods K-8 | 4 |
| EDGR 533 | Education Practicum: Instructional Strategist I – K-8 | 3 |
| EDGR 536 | Working with Families, Teachers, and Community Agencies | 3 |
| EDGR 515 | Mental Health First Aid / Trauma-Informed Care: What to Know to Be Successful with Children | 1-2 |
| EDGR 543 | Assessing and Instructing Struggling Readers | 3 |
| EDGR 538 | Diagnosis and Evaluation of Special Education Students | 3 |
| EDGR 539 | Individual Behavior Management | 3 |
| EDGR 535 | Career / Vocational Programming (for 5-12 only) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 23-24 |
Please Note:
This is not an official schedule and your cohort may take these courses in a different order.
