Utah State Office of Education

Reading Teacher Endorsement Course Framework

 Foundations of Literacy

 Syllabus Framework

 

Department

Institution

Semester

Instructor:                                                                                                         

Name

Office address

Office phone

e-mail

 

 

Purpose

The purpose of this course is to provide an historical and theoretical perspective on reading and writing theory and instruction.  Knowing where the literacy field has already been intellectually and pedagogically helps us to move forward in our practice rather than simply repeat the efforts and mistakes of the past.  A solid familiarity with the contemporary research base allows us to place literacy-related issues and challenges in a meaningful context that will help us make well-informed decisions that will ultimately benefit the students we are charged to educate.  This course is intended to provide teachers with that solid theoretical foundation.

 

 

Course Objectives:

After completing this course you will be able to:

 

Objectives                                                                     Standards

 

Describe how social, political, and economic contexts have influenced literacy instruction philosophy and practice throughout the history of our nation

 

2.11, 4.4, 11.4, 11.5,16.1.16.3, 16.3

 

Describe the contributions of prominent reading researchers and leaders over past decades

 

1.5,1.6,1.7, 2.1, 2.2,    2.10,.

 

Describe the major models and topics of reading research and their influence upon practice

 

1.5, l.6, 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1,4.4, 5.6,

 

Describe the major themes of the current knowledge base in literacy pedagogy

 

1.5, 1.7, 2.3, 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.3, 4.4, 5.6, 5.8

 

Discuss major current issues in literacy research and theory

 

1.7, 2.10, 2.11, 3.1, 4.1, 4.4,11.4, 11.5

 

 


 

Required Texts

 

 

Course Topics

Historical overview of reading: What is literacy?

Prominent Reading Researchers

 

Models of reading

    Top-down models

    Bottom-up models

    Interactive models

 

Reading research:  models, issues, and trends

- early literacy development and phonemic processes

- print processing

-vocabulary acquisition and comprehension

-home and cultural influences in reading

-metacgnition and comprehension strategies research

-needs of diverse learners

-interest and motivation research and practice

 

Major instructional practices in reading

- basal reading programs

-supplementary programs

- intensive phonics programs

- technology-based programs

-writing process and writing workshops

 

Intervention programs such as Reading Recovery, Success for All

 

Special issues (e.g., dyslexia, phoenemic awareness)

 

Assessment and evaluation of reading and writing

 

Assignments

$          Complete assigned readings and prepared to discuss them in class

 

$          Prepare a paper describing the Aeducational pendulum@ as it has influenced reading instruction over the past centuries.

 

$          Select a line of literacy research or a prominent literacy researcher and prepare a paper describing this body of work in-depth.

 

$          Observe and reflect in writing on literacy practices in an elementary or secondary classroom.

 


$          Examine, summarize, and share research to build in-depth knowledge about one aspect of literacy instruction

 

 

Grading Procedures:

 

Bibliography

Barr, R., Kamil, M., & Mosenthal, P. (1984).  Handbook of reading research, Vol. 1.   New    York: Longman..

 

Barr, R., Kamil, M., Mosenthal, P. & Pearson, D. (1991).  Handbook of reading research, Vol. 2.  New York: Longman.

 

Braunger, J. & Lewis, J. (1999). Using the knowledge base in reading: Teachers at work.  Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

 

Braunger, J. & Lewis, J. (1998). Building a knowledge base in reading. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

 

Cunningham, A. & Stanovich, K. (1998). What reading does for the mind. American Educator, 22, 8-17.

 

Farstrup, A., & Samuels, S. (2002).  What research has to say about reading instruction.  Newark, DE: IRA.

 

Gee, J. (1988).  Discourse Systems And Aspirin Bottles: On Literacy.  Journal Of      Education,..

170, 27-40.

 

Hacker, D., Dunlosky, J., & Graesser, A. (1998).  Metacognition in educational theory and      practice.  Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

 

Heath, S. B. (1983).  What No Bedtime Story Means: Narrative Skills At Home School. 

Language And Society,  2, 49-76.

 

Kamil, M.L., Mosenthal, P.B., Pearson, P.D., & Barr, R. (2000). Handbook of reading             research, volume III. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

 

Neuman, S., & Dickinson, D. (2001).  Handbook of early liteeracy research.  New York:        Guilford.

 

Metsala, J., & Ehri, L. (Eds.) (1998)..  Word recognition in   beginning literacy.    Hillsdale, NJ:  Erlbaum.

 

Pressley, M. (2002).  Reading instruction that works.  New York: Guilford.

 

Pressley, M., Allington, R., Wharton-McDonald, R., Block, C., & Morrow, L. (2001).  Learning to read: Lessons from exemplary first-grade classroom.    New York: Guilford.

 

Resnick, D.P. (1990). Historical perspectives on literacy and schooling. Daedalus, 119, 2, 15-32.

 


Robinson, R.D., McKenna, M.C., & Wedman, J.M. (2000). Issues and trends in literacy             education. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

 

Ruddell, R., Ruddell, M., & Singer, H. (1994).  Theoretical models and processes of reading (4th             edition).  Newark, DE: IRA.

 

Simmons, D., & Kameenui, E. (1998).  What reading research tells us about children with diverse             learning needs: Bases and Basics..

 

Stahl, S.A. & Hayes, D.A. (1997). Instructional models in reading. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence    Erlbaum Associates.

 

Stanovich, K.E. (2000).  Understanding reading: Scientific Foundations and New Frontiers.  New             York: New Guilford Press.

 

Stanovich, K.E. (1997). Twenty-five years of research on the reading process: The grand             synthesis and what it means for our field.  Oscar S. Causey Research Award Address presented to the National Reading Conference, Scottsdale, AZ.