Literacy Instruction Across Early and Intermediate Schooling B-6

Catalog description

This course offers in-depth exploration of the reading and writing processes involved as children in early childhood and in the intermediate grades incrementally develop reading skills that allow them to learn to read and read to learn. Literacy theory and models at the intermediate level focus on the creation of the literate environment (Hansen model: Time, Choice, Response, Structure, Community). Topics include organizing instruction to meet diverse needs: developing fluency through word study, vocabulary development, spelling; reading for meaning (exploring prior knowledge and metacognitive strategies); reading/writing across the curriculum via thematic instruction; using children's literature; narrative and expository text structures in reading and writing; exploring authentic assessment methods/materials. The course examines the value of portfolio assessment and checklists. ELA standards/assessments including parallel task design will be reviewed as well as strategies for working with at-risk students.