Literacy Methods for Early Childhood

Catalog description

Grounded in the Science of Reading, this course focuses on the language and literacy development of young children, emphasizing the fundamental principles and structure of language and how the brain learns to read. Teacher candidates will study phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, and sound-symbol relationships to understand how these components connect to the brain’s processing of spoken and written language. Course topics include theories of language acquisition, the relationship between oral language and print, and developmentally appropriate, evidence-based instructional practices aligned with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Oklahoma State Reading/English Language Arts Standards. A supervised five-hour field experience provides opportunities to apply research-based strategies for supporting early literacy in diverse early childhood settings. Offered every fall semester for the traditional 16-week pathway and every term for accelerated 8-week course.