EDU 205 - Foundations of Early Literacy Instruction

1.  Explain the reading and writing process in depth.
2. Evaluate and understand current and historical approaches to teaching literacy.
3. Analyze effective reading and writing instruction in the classroom setting.
4. Explain factors that may have a positive or negative affect on reading and writing acquisition, comprehension, and fluency.
5. Identify students’ funds of knowledge to design literacy lessons and activities.
6. Develop classroom literacy plans, activities, and environments that include culturally appropriate and effective materials and practices.
7. Include students cultural, social, and linguistic backgrounds when designing curriculum and classroom instruction.
8. Develop and evaluate lesson plans using the following: print concepts, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
9. Analyze appropriate assessment to guide future instruction for individual student needs.

I.A. Reading Acquisition

I.B. Writing Acquisition

I.C. Brain Development

II. Approaches to Literacy Instruction

II.A. Historical Approaches

II.B. Current/Research based Approaches

III. Literacy Instruction Process

            III.A. Print Concepts

            III.B. Phonological Awareness

            III.C. Phonemic Awareness/Phonics

            III.D. Vocabulary

            III.E.  Fluency

            III.F.  Comprehension

IV. Instructional Considerations   

            IV.A. Developmentally Appropriate Practices

            IV.B.  Cultural, Social, Linguistic backgrounds

                IV.C Funds of Knowledge, Historical and Cultural

                IV.D Culturally Appropriate Materials and Environments for Literacy Instruction

                IV.E.  Effective vs. Ineffective Instruction

V. Assessment

            V.A. Common Core Standards

            V.B. Understanding Assessment Tools

            V.C. Assessment used for Planning Instruction

Group work 20%

Demonstrations/Videos 30%  

Examining/Reviewing Materials 10%
Mandatory Course Components:
Tests

14 hours field work in specifically designated classrooms (during language arts instruction)
Equivalent Courses:
None