EDUC 324 - Developing Literacy Skills in the Elementary Classroom

(3 credits)

Will incorporate the suggested guidelines of the U.S. Department of Education and the findings of the National Reading Panel Report of 2002. Following up on the early literacy focus of EDUC 223, a foundation of reading theory will be developed and investigated in relation the components of reading enumerated in the Panel’s report, including the following: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary and text comprehension. Additionally, critical literacy will be investigated. Emphasis will be on the “learning-to-read” stages of development. Students will study basic developmental reading skills, including language acquisition, readiness skills, vocabulary development, word recognition skills and comprehension from Kindergarten to grade 4. They will examine various reading approaches, their effectiveness and associated methods of instruction. Included in the program is attention to recognition of student difficulties and using information acquired through formal and informal means to individualize instruction to students’ needs, including, ELL students, students with special needs and high-risk students. This course partially fulfills the PDE guidelines for Early Childhood certification candidates. Also included in this course will be the accommodations and adaptations for children with disabilities in an inclusive setting. Clinical experiences will include fourteen hours of observations in the K-4 literacy classroom environment and instruction in elements of reading. Pre requisites: EDUC 101, EDUC 210 and EDUC 212. Spring. Students will be assigned fourteen hours of clinical experience in an area school or educational setting.