EDU 523 - Literacy 1 Methods: Early Childhood/Middle Childhood

This course will investigate the theories, research and practices involved in literacy instruction. We will do an in-depth study of the core elements that constitute a structured literacy program. Students will learn how to integrate the core elements while developing and analyzing their own ideas about what constitutes best practice in literacy instruction. An important goal for this course is for students to understand diversity and how to effectively meet the needs of all learners.

This course will explore the foundations of reading, writing and word study and the teaching of these areas in several contexts. We will examine a variety of instructional practices for cultivating strategic and engaged readers, writers and thinkers. We will also study multiple genres of children’s literature and develop an understanding of what constitutes quality literature and how to utilize it purposefully in literacy instruction.

The end goal of this course is for students to be confidently prepared to design a literacy block and implement a literacy curriculum that engages and meets the needs of diverse learners.

Grading: Letter Graded
SP
Prerequisite(s): EDU 503 : Constructivist Education