EDUC 0303: Early Literacy and
This course has a required
face to face orientation session during the first week of class. Click this
link for details.
Course Objectives:
This course will prepare prospective teachers to teach
reading and literacy as entry-level elementary,
early childhood or special needs: moderate initial
licensure candidates. It will also help candidates prepare for the
challenging Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure
(MTEL): Foundations of Reading, Field 90. Candidates
who take this course will be prepared to take the May,
2008 administration of this high-stakes test but are not required to do so.
Course Overview:
Candidates will learn assessment and instructional
strategies in the five main components of
reading instruction including phonemic awareness,
phonics and other word recognition strategies, fluency,
vocabulary and comprehension. Additional curriculum
pertains to assessment concepts and applications.
Although a three credit course, because of the scope,
breadth and depth of subject matter necessary to be successful
on the MTEL, it is assumed that candidates will work
much harder than is typical for a three credit course. Course work is organized
on a weekly basis. Candidates are also required to read
and document their reading weekly. Four texts (one is provided free) on reading
and
literacy are required along with two projects, two
quizzes and two tests. Tests are a combination of multiple choice and essay
questions.
Tests are taken face to face in the CIT on designated
days. Students must take the tests on those days but may have the whole
day to take them. An additional face-to-face class
session is required at the end of the semester in order for the professor
to introduce and model the procedures needed for the
second project. Please refer to the syllabus for these dates.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Sandra Berkowitz
206 Parenzo Hall
413-572-5323, Please use PLATO/VISTA email