EDC G 646 Understanding Reading: Principles and Practices

This is the first of a two-course literacy sequence required for the Graduate Program leading to Initial Licensure as an elementary Teacher. It introduces the foundations of reading development and engages participants in reflective, critical consideration of student’s diverse needs in the acquisition of literacy. Emphasis is given to assessment-driven instruction in a comprehensive literacy program requiring a minimum of six hours observing and assessing an elementary reader. Topics include: oral language development for emergent literacy; lesson planning with clear assessment goals for enduring understandings; foundational reading skills for meaningful text comprehension; organization of classroom literacy instruction; management of responsive, differentiated literacy classrooms; and strengthening home/school connections. A consistent focus is the teachers as a knowledgeable and skilled decision maker.

3 Credit(s)