Prin & Methods of Multicultural Literacy

Catalog description

This course is required of all students seeking New York state teacher certification in Childhood/Students with Disabilities, Middle Childhood Specialist and T.E.S.O.L. This course is designed to prepare preservice teacher (grades 1-12) for the implementation of culturally relevant literacy instruction for inclusive urban, suburban and rural settings. It also offers a training process for reading, writing, listening, speaking and viewing instruction for diverse learners, such as those students with physically handicapping conditions, students with special cognitive and emotional needs, and students learning English as a second language. Studies will alternate between the college classroom and two hours of weekly observations and participation in school classrooms. During the time in the college classroom, the focus will be on the learning and teaching of reading, writing, listening, speaking and viewing in light of theoretical perspectives and belief systems. In the school classrooms, the focus will be on students and teachers during the literacy learning process. In both settings, the preservice teacher/researcher, will explore and observe effective methods and materials including electronic texts and literacy learning computer programs; discussion and reflection will be encouraged and reported. Finally, there will be an emphasis on the use of multicultural literature across the curriculum.