Foundations of Literacy (PK-3) for Inclusive Early Childhood Education (IECE)

Catalog description

This is the second course in a two-course sequence designed to provide pre-service inclusive early childhood teachers with the foundation of literacy development. This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the science of literacy, focusing on how children acquire and develop literacy skills across a variety of learners in PK-3 classrooms. Grounded in evidence-based research, the course examines the cognitive and neurological processes involved in literacy development and acquisition, including an in-depth look at the reading brain and how it adapts to written language. Students will engage with foundational frameworks such as the Simple View of Reading, which emphasizes the dual importance of decoding and language comprehension, and will analyze the five pillars of literacy - phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Additionally, the course will explore Scarborough's Reading Rope, illustrating the complex, interwoven strands that contribute to skilled reading. The course also emphasizes the role of assessment in guiding instructional decision making and monitoring progress, equipping educators with tools to evaluate literacy skills effectively. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to apply scientifically grounded literacy practices to support all learners in achieving reading proficiency in the primary literacy classroom (PK-3).