Literacy (Reading)


Faculty:
Paul Nochelski, S.J., Chair; Mary E. Shea, Director; Rosemary K. Murray, Gillian Richardson.

Admission
Application for admission to the program is open to any qualified holder of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university regardless of undergraduate field of study. Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate work in education. This includes taking the GRE exam. In addition to those requirements, applicants must present evidence of certification in a teaching area that includes foundational courses in pedagogy and methodology.


Certification in this program has been split under the new regulations. The former certification program of reading Pre-K-Grade 12 ceased to exist on February 2, 2004. The new certification categories are Birth to Grade 6 and Grades 5-12. 

The following courses are required of all candidates:

EDR 502

 

Foundations of Literacy Instruction

 

3

EDR 509

 

Teaching Literacy with Diverse Populations

 

3

EDR 510

 

Creating a Literate Environment: Teaching the Language Processes

 

3

EDR 600

 

Literacy Curriculum and the Role of the Reading Specialist

 

3

EDR 616

 

Research Methods in Reading

 

3

Or

 

 

 

 

EDU 615

 

Research Methods

 

3

TOTAL 15


In addition, candidates must select one track and complete the designated required courses:

Track I: Additional courses required for certification and the M.S. in education in literacy Birth-Grade 6

EDR 501

 

Reading and Writing in the Content Areas

 

3

EDR 508

 

Emergent Literacy

 

3

EDR 601

 

Diagnosis and Diagnostic Teaching Clinical Practicum: Birth- Grade 6

 

6

EDR 603

 

Advanced Practicum: Birth - Grade 6

 

3

TOTAL 30


At this point, candidates will have met the education requirements for professional certification in literacy, Birth-Grade 6. Candidates wishing to obtain an additional certification in literacy for Grades 5-12 must take the following additional courses:

EDR 606

 

Internship Practicum: Grades 5-12

 

6

EDR 504

 

Adolescent Literacy

 

3


Track II: Additional courses required for certification and the M.S. in education in literacy Grades 5-12

EDR 503

 

Reading in the Secondary School

 

3

EDR 504

 

Adolescent Literacy

 

3

EDR 602

 

Diagnosis and Diagnostic Teaching Clinical Practicum: Grades 5-12

 

6

EDR 604

 

Advanced Practicum: Grades 5-12

 

3

TOTAL 30


At this point, candidates will have met the education requirements for professional certification in literacy, Grades 5-12. Candidates wishing to obtain an additional certification in literacy for Birth-Grade 6 must take the following additional courses:

EDR 605

 

Internship Practicum: Birth - Grade 6

 

6

EDR 508

 

Emergent Literacy

 

3


Courses 2004-2006

EDR 501 Reading and Writing in the Content Areas (3 credits)
Strategies for teaching and developing young children’s skills in effectively applying literacy skills as tools for learning in content areas will be examined. Candidates will develop materials and procedures that enhance comprehension, vocabulary acquisition and study skills of diverse populations of learners. Various measures for assessing children’s performance in subject areas will be studied. Children’s literature that supplements textbooks across the content areas will be examined.


EDR 502 Foundations of Literacy Instruction (3 credits)
Research-based foundational principles for effective instruction in each of the language areas will be explored. Candidates will study strategies for literacy instruction with diverse populations of learners, create lesson plans that apply instructional techniques, select materials based on children’s literacy level and interests and examine various assessment measures. Multiple genres of children’s literature along with applications in literacy instruction will be explored.


EDR 503 Reading in the Secondary School (3 credits)
The effective application of literacy skills as tools for teaching secondary level content areas to diverse populations will be examined. Candidates will develop materials and procedures that enhance comprehension. Integration of content and skills across subjects will be emphasized as well as methods to meet specific needs of students using multiple measures of assessment, diverse genres of literature and various applications in literacy instruction.


EDR 504 Adolescent Literacy: A Critical Pedagogy for a Diverse Urban Population (3 credits)
Candidates will address the literacy needs of an increasingly diverse middle childhood and adolescent school population. Candidates will explore the factors influencing literacy education in the secondary school and become familiar with effective diagnostic teaching strategies appropriate for this diverse population. Field experience will be provided.


EDR 508 Emergent Literacy (3 credits)
Research on how young children’s literacy knowledge emerges and structures that enhance this development will be studied. Implementation of the emergent literacy paradigm through lessons and programs for a diverse population of young children will be a focus. Multiple measures of assessment, effective early intervention models and multiple genres of literature with applications in literacy instruction will be explored.


EDR 509 Teaching Literacy with Diverse Populations (3 credits)
Strategies for effective literacy instruction with diverse populations will be examined. These include research-based approaches for special education students, ESL/LEP students, as well as gifted and talented students. Candidates will examine how to match instruction to students’ needs as well as how to incorporate differentiated instruction in a classroom. Multicultural literature and literature that deals with specific disabilities will be examined.


EDR 510 Creating a Literate Environment: Teaching the Language Processes (3 credits)
Instructional techniques for concurrently developing skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing as well as specific models for instruction that meet diverse needs and interests at all levels will be examined. Organizational components of an effective reading and writing classroom will be explored along with methods for providing a print rich environment that spans a broad spectrum of reading levels, genres and interests. 


EDR 600 Literacy Curriculum and the Role of the Reading Specialist (3 credits)
Procedures for planning, evaluating and implementing curriculum at the school district level that addresses state and local mandates will be explored. Multiple resources that can be used in the implementation of curriculum will be examined. The role that the reading specialist plays in coordinating this process, guiding the selection of instructional materials and determining appropriate in-service will be examined.


EDR 601 Birth- Grade 6: Diagnosis and Diagnostic Teaching Clinical Practicum (6 credits)
Candidates will explore theories and conduct in-depth literacy assessments, using both formal and informal age-appropriate measures. Candidates will examine administrative procedures and the interpretation of results for multiple assessment instruments, including diagnostic and achievement tests, reading inventories, observations and anecdotal records. The diagnostic teaching model will be introduced and traditional remediation and intervention theories will be explored as candidates work with struggling readers during scheduled tutorial sessions.


EDR 602 Grade 5-12 Diagnosis and Diagnostic Teaching Clinical Practicum (6 credits)
Candidates will explore theories and conduct in-depth literacy assessments using both formal and informal age-appropriate measures. Candidates will examine procedures and the interpretation of results for multiple assessment instruments, including diagnostic and achievement tests, reading inventories, observations, and anecdotal records. The diagnostic teaching model will be introduced. Traditional remediation and intervention theories will be explored as candidates work with struggling readers during scheduled tutorial sessions.


EDR 603 Advanced Practicum: Birth- Grade 6 (3 credits)
Candidates observe and participate in reading clinics, schools, or public and voluntary agencies serving children who are experiencing literacy problems. Candidates will refine proficiencies in instruction and assessment, organization and enhancement of a literacy curriculum, working with a professional team, serving as a resource in literacy education, and acting as a mentor to pre-service and in-service literacy professionals.


EDR 604 Advanced Practicum: Grades 5-12 (3 credits)
Candidates observe and participate in reading clinics, schools, or public and voluntary agencies serving children who are experiencing literacy problems. Candidates will refine proficiencies in instruction and assessment, organization and enhancement of a literacy curriculum, working with a professional team, serving as a resource in literacy education, and acting as a mentor to pre-service and in-service literacy professionals.


EDR 605 Internship Practicum: Birth- Grade 6 (3 credits)
During this semester-long practicum experience in literacy instruction candidates will observe and participate in reading clinics, schools, or public and voluntary agencies serving children who are experiencing literacy problems. Candidates will work with clients at the emergent and childhood level.


EDR 606 Internship Practicum: Grades 5-12 (6 credits)
During this semester-long practicum experience in literacy instruction candidates will observe and participate in reading clinics, schools or public and voluntary agencies serving children who are experiencing literacy problems. Candidates will work with clients at the middle childhood through adolescent level.


EDR 616 Research Methods in Reading (3 credits)
Descriptive and inferential statistical methods, quantitative and qualitative methods, research models, procedures for designing research studies and ethical principles will be studied. The course will include an examination of the major substantive areas in the field of research on teaching, perspectives and questions on contrasting paradigms, implications of this research for curriculum, instruction, policy and practice and teacher education/professional development. Each candidate will plan a research project consistent with his/her interests and with the course goals.  Prerequisite: EDU515