Early Childhood Reading Methods

Catalog description

This course addresses evidence-based approaches for the effective teaching of literacy. The five essential components of reading instruction, as identified by the National Reading Panel, of this class include: Phonemic awareness skills, phonics skills, reading fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension strategies. Additionally, the concepts of reading and writing connections, assessment, and content area skills and strategies needed for reading to learn, thinking and written discourse are emphasized. The teacher candidate observes and learns to create rich literate environments which foster reading, writing, speaking, listening and technological literacies through the integration of their foundation knowledge, use of instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessment. For those taking this course at a graduate level, an emphasis will be placed on examining research and data that support reading instructional models that address the five essential components of reading instruction. Students will use their practicum placement to observe reading instruction, assessment, and curriculum.