Language & Literacy Dev. Series: Reading and Writing Dev. and Instruction for Equity and Joy

EDU H811G Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This module is the second in the Language and Literacy Development series. Learning to read and write are complex processes influenced by a learner's oral language, their cultural capital, their funds of knowledge, and the sociocultural and sociopolitical context in which literacy is taught. We will explore the influences of language background, ethnicity, and class on literacy development. The format of the course will be a combination of lectures, in-class activities, and asynchronous discussion boards, designed to create an understanding of the developmental processes of learning to read and write. Emphasizing the connections among theory, assessment, and instructional approaches, we will use equity and social justice as our lens to empower learners' joy. Topics will include (but are not limited to) the sociocultural factors in learning to read and write, the history and perspectives on learning to read and write, the science of reading and writing, and the developmental stages of reading and writing (K-12). The assignments will offer you an opportunity to apply the theoretical concepts of literacy acquisition to your own experiences. You will select an instructional program and evaluate its use for a particular type of learner, such as multilingual learners, learners with identified special needs, or typically developing learners within a specific grade span.

Teaching experience is recommended, but not required. This course is open to all HGSE students, as well as cross registrants. Literacy and Languages concentrators must take two of the four modules in this series.