EDUC 5610 - Literacy Instruction for Emergent Learners, Birth to First Grade

(3) Credit Hours

An advanced focus in literacy to support teacher knowledge of best practices in classroom instruction aimed at ages of birth through first grade. The major theories of language development and the history of teaching reading in the U.S.; principles of balanced literacy; critical strategies in emergent literacy instruction; methods for creating a literacy environment; and strategies for supporting children’s vocabulary development, word identification, and spelling pattern awareness. Current issues will be explored in the topics of phonics instruction, decodable text, literature-based approaches, phonemic awareness, and the competing theories of emergent literacy and “reading readiness.” Field component required.