THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

SUMMER 2007 Course Syllabus

CRD 510 – Expanding Reading in the Elementary Grades (2nd-6th)

 

 

Department:     Curriculum and Instruction                              Instructor: Dr. Dana Key

Program:       Reading Specialist P-12                                       Office:        Gadsden Center

Credit Hours: 3                                                                        Phone:       256-546-2886

                                                                                                Email:         danakey@bama.ua.edu      

 

 

 

Class Schedule

May 4,5,18,19 & June 15,16,29,30

 

Prerequisites for Reading Specialist Students

Reading Specialist Prerequisites: (a) At least baccalaureate-level professional educator certification in any area of education; (b) Two years of successful classroom teaching experience; (c) Certification in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Collaborative Teacher (K-6 or 6-12).  Either CRD 510 or CRD 511 must be taken WITH the practicum CRD 595.

 

CRD 510 meets requirements for other programs as well; see program for information.

 

Course Catalog Description

A comprehensive study of the major factors involved in teaching reading at the intermediate grade levels. Techniques for teaching word recognition and comprehension skills are studied extensively (p. 363).

 

Conceptual Framework

Preparation of professionals as reflective practitioners and ethical decision makers: The University of Alabama's College of Education seeks to prepare professionals who value and demonstrate reflective practice and ethical decision making through respecting diversity, honoring difference, and promoting social justice. Experiences in academic programs are devoted to developing individuals' understanding of knowledge construction, learning, pedagogy, and responsible professional practice in the contexts of education.

 

Knowledge Base

This course is guided by the National Council of Teachers of English and International Reading Association document: NCTA/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts; the Alabama Course of Study for the Language Arts; and effective instruction identified in the Alabama Reading Initiative publications: Essential Skills of Teachers of Reading and Essential Skills of the Reading Coach.

 

Course Objectives

290-3-3-.45.1 Reading Specialist (P-12)

(1) Admission. Requirements for admission to the class A Reading Specialist program shall include:

(a) At least baccalaureate-level professional educator certification in any area of education; [RS(1)(a)]

(b) Two years of successful classroom teaching experience; and [RS(1)(b)]

(c) Certification in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Collaborative Teacher (K-6 or 6-12); or [RS(1)(c)]

(d) Completion of two reading courses including an introduction to reading course. [RS(1)(d)]

(2) Curriculum. The curriculum shall provide the prospective reading specialist with the following knowledge and abilities:

(b) Knowledge of the knowledge base for reading including:

5. Effective instruction identified in the Alabama Reading Initiative publications: Essential Skills of Teachers of Reading and Essential Skills of the Reading Coach. [RS(2)(b)(5)]

(c) Knowledge of reading material including:

4. How to evaluate, select, and integrate media (e.g. software) into the reading program. [RS(2)(c)(4)]

5. How to select, substitute, and/or rewrite content materials at students’ reading levels. [RS(2)(c)(5)]

(e) Knowledge of comprehension including:

1. The impact of amount of reading on reading comprehension. [RS(2)(e)1]

2. Teacher-directed, integrated instruction in comprehension strategies that will increase students’ abilities to gain meaning from printed material. [RS(2)(e)2]

3. Questioning and discussion strategies that yield literal, interpretive, and evaluative student responses to printed material. [RS(2)(e)3]

4. The causal relationship between the size of vocabulary and reading comprehension. [RS(2)(e)4]

5. Strategies that increase reading comprehension including, but not limited to, summarizing, retelling, rereading, outlining, note-taking, visualizing, clarifying, and predicting. [RS(2)(e)5]

290-3-3-.42 Fifth-Year Programs for Teachers.

(4)  Curriculum. At the Class A level, the teacher may complete any of three types of programs. Regardless of the type of program completed, survey of special education coursework shall be required unless previously completed. Individuals completing the traditional education program or the Alternative Class A program must also demonstrate the knowledge and ability identified in .42(4)(d) below:

(d) With regard to integrating technology into teaching and learning, individuals enrolled in the traditional teacher education program or the Alternative Class A program shall demonstrate:

1. Knowledge of:

(i) Strategies to identify and evaluated technology resources and technical assistance. (i.e. those available on-line and on-site within a school and district setting); [FY(4)(d)1(i)]

(ii) Methods for assessing advantages and limitations of current and emerging technologies, on-line resources, software, electronic content to facilitate teaching and student learning; [FY(4)(d)1(ii)]

                  (e) Each fifth-year level program for teachers shall ensure that each completer of the program has                              demonstrated the Five Core Propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching                                Standards. The five propositions are:

1. Help teachers become committed to students and their learning of [FY (4)(e)1]

2. Help teachers know literacy and how to teach literacy to students [FY(4)(e)2]

                              3. Help teachers be responsible for managing and monitoring student learning

                              [FY(4)(e)3]

4. Help teachers think systematically about their practice in literacy and learn   from        experience  [FY(4)(e)4]

5.      Help teachers become members of learning communities  [FY(4)(e)5]

 

Course Objectives:

·   Provide opportunities to develop knowledge about the difference between reading to learn and learning to read.

·   Provide opportunities to develop knowledge about and the ability to assess intermediate grade students’ literacy abilities and to plan and provide appropriate instruction.

·   Provide opportunities to develop knowledge of the role of content literacy skills in the gaining of content area knowledge.

 

Student Objectives:

·   Locate, read, and discuss pertinent research.

·   Participate in a small group project and professional presentation related to a selected area of professional interest.

·   Know about and be able to plan, teach, and critique comprehension strategy instruction, fluency strategy instruction, and word reading instruction for children expanding their reading power in the intermediate grades (2nd-6th).

·   Know about and be able to implement appropriate assessments for children in the intermediate grades.

·   Be able to create an appropriate plan of instruction based on assessments of a struggling intermediate grade reader.

 

Course Methods

The class will be conducted in an interactive manner, including: Discussion of readings, viewing relevant videos, guest speakers, lectures, and related in-class activities.  Course assignments are designed to provide experience engaging in the practice of reading assessment and instruction for children in the intermediate grades. 

Work with children currently in the intermediate grades (2nd through 6th) is required.

 

 

 

Course Policies

University Policies

·   Academic Misconduct. Academic misconduct by students includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student commit an act of academic dishonesty.  The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.  Please refer to http://registrar.ua.edu/policies/ for the revised Codes of Conduct.

·   Equal Treatment. The instructor and students in this course will act with integrity and strive to engage in equitable verbal and non-verbal behavior with respect to differences arising from age, gender, race, physical ability, and religious preferences.

·   Accommodations. If you need assistance, please see the instructor.

·   Plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of representing words, data, works, ideas, computer program or output, or anything not generated by the student as his or her own.  Plagiarism may be inadvertent or purposeful; however, plagiarism is not a question of intent.  All suspected incidences of plagiarism must be reported by the course instructor to the Assistant Dean of the College of Education.  Plagiarism is considered a serious act of academic misconduct and may result in a student receiving an “F” in the course and being suspended from the University.  For more information, see http://registrar.ua.edu/policies/.

 

Additional Policies

·         Cell Phone Policy. Upon entering class, turn cell phones to “silent.” If a student must take or make a call, the student is to excuse self from class. The student is responsible for any work/discussion/project missed while taking/placing call.

·         Attendance Policy. Your attendance for every class is expected; however, from time to time students elect to miss a class to attend various “previous commitments.”  The class dates were set when you registered, and your grade will be lowered significantly if you are absent.

·         Course Work Policy. All assignments are to be turned in on time. As a general rule, there is no make-up policy for missed work. Quizzes may NOT be made-up.

 

Required Course Texts and Readings

·   Rasinski,T. V. (2003).  The fluent reader.  New York: Scholastic

·   Harvey, S., & Goudvis, A. (2007) Strategies that work: Teaching comprehension to enhance understanding. Portland, ME: Stenhouse

·   Cunningham, P., & Allington, R.  (2007) Classrooms that work: They all can read and write.  Boston: Pearson

·   Alabama Reading Initiative publications:

Essential Skills of the Reading Coach at http://www.alsde.edu/html/sections/doc_download.asp?section=50&id=3335&sort=70

Essential Skills of Teachers of Reading at http://www.alsde.edu/html/sections/doc_download.asp?section=50&id=3336&sort=70

 

·   Additional readings will be assigned throughout the course. The materials for these readings will be provided by the

instructor, available in McLure Library, or found on the Internet via Alabama Virtual Library.  If you do not have a card for home access, you should see your librarian immediately.

 

 

Evaluation

Your final grade will be based on informal and formal evaluation procedures. Ongoing assessments will occur throughout the course. It is your responsibility to make sure all coursework is complete and turned in on time. I will not remind you of missed coursework. In addition, it is advisable to keep a back-up copy of all work.

 

 

 

 

Assignments

 

Class Participation, Course Readings, and Miscellaneous Assignments to Accompany Readings.. You are responsible for class readings. I will not lecture from the information we have all read. Rather, we will discuss the information in terms of its validity, feasibility, and value for teaching.  Please be prepared to contribute to our class with personal observations, reflections, and recommendations from your readings and study.  You will bring to each class one RESEARCH article relating to the class readings. Additionally, you will write a one page summary and personal reflection for that article.  Additional articles will be supplied by the instructor for reading in class.  [RS(2)(b)5] [RS(2)(c)4] [RS(2)(c)5] [RS(2)(e)1] [RS(2)(e)2] [RS(2)(e)3] [RS(2)(e)4] [RS(2)(e)5] [FY(4)(d)1(i)] [FY(4)(d)1(ii)]

DUE ongoing throughout course   200 POINTS

 

Case Study. You will use three reading assessment instruments, a spelling assessment, and an attitude survey to assess one intermediate grade struggling reader (reading 1-2 levels below grade level).  Additionally, you will need to write a summary of the child’s background and academic history, the results of your assessment, your proposed plan for instruction, and what you have learned from your case study.

Due June 15  100 POINTS

 

Professional Literature Study Group Project. You will participate in a small study group on a topic related to intermediate grade reading assessment and instruction.  You will read, review, and use one professional text (must be published within the past three years) as a basis for a group project. You will also include 3 additional articles PER person in the group (e.g., 5 group members = 15 additional citations; 3 group members=9 additional citations).

These articles must be different from any others studied/reviewed in class.  The project will culminate with a 30-minute professional development presentation to the class as a final project; this should include handouts for the class and instructor, and should involve technology in the presentation.  [RS(2)(b)5] [RS(2)(c)4] [RS(2)(c)5] [RS(2)(e)1] [RS(2)(e)2] [RS(2)(e)3] [RS(2)(e)4] [RS(2)(e)5] [FY(4)(d)1(i)] [FY(4)(d)1(ii)]

Due June 29   100 POINTS

 

Exams

Midterm Exam. A midterm exam will be given: Friday, May 18. This exam will consist of  comprehensive-exam type questions.  100 points

 

Final Exam. A final exam will be given: June 29. The exam will consist of comprehensive exam-type questions. 100 points

 

Grading Procedure and Scale

Each assignment will be evaluated by the instructor and assigned a letter grade determined by the total number of earned points using the following scale: 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C. To successfully complete this course, at least a 70% on each assignment must be attained.  Final grades are determined using the following scale:

A: (90-100%)     B: (80-89%)       C: (70-79%)

 

Professional Journals: You will find these good sources for research articles.

 

Reading Teacher,   Language Arts,   Reading Psychology,   Journal of Literacy Research,  

Reading Research Quarterly, National Reading Conference Yearbook

 

 

Course Outline             CRD 510   Summer 2006           All topics and assignments are tentative!       

 

Date

Topics to Be Covered

Readings/Assignments

 

Class 1

 

May 4/5

 

Introduction to the course and the syllabus

 

Professional Literature Groups—introduce and choose topic/texts

 

History and Rationale of Oral Reading; Read Alouds and Fluency

 

Reading Attitudes and Foundations for reading success

 

Assessing the intermediate grade reader

 

The Importance of Read Alouds for intermediate grade readers

 

Effective teaching, learning

 

What is Expanding Reading?  An Overview of Reading Development

 

The role of Attitude, Motivation, and Engagement in expanding children’s reading development

 

Administering and Interpreting the QRI

 

Assessing Fluency and Word Recognition

 

 

Fluent Reader: Forward, Introduction, and Ch 1,2, 7

 

Classrooms that Work Ch: 1-4

 

Strategies that Work: 1-5

 

 

Class 2

 

May 18/19

 

 

Readability Formulas and Determining Text Levels

 

Scaffolding; Strategies for Reading and Writing

Research and the support of struggling readers

 

Guided reading

 

Assessments

 

Writing the results of Assessments

 

Creating a Community of Thinking

 

Strategic Reading

 

Literature Study / Literature Circles / Book Clubs

 

Struggling Reader Profiles

 

Teaching Strategies and providing practice

 

Making Connections to increase comprehension

 

Text Selection for comprehension strategy instruction

 

Creating Texts for children’s use

 

Questioning to increase comprehension

 

Supporting developing and struggling readers

 

MID TERM EXAM the last activity on Saturday!

 

QRI section 1: Introduction to the QRI

 

Fluent Reader  chs 3-5

 

Classrooms that Work ch: 5-9

 

Strategies that Work ch: 6-11

 

 

 

 

 

Class 3

 

June 15/16

 

 

 

Supporting reading across the curriculum 1

 

Teaching across the curriculum with Biography

 

Teaching and learning new vocabulary

 

Supporting reading across the curriculum 2

 

Science Texts: Considerations and confusions

 

ARI in Alabama Classroom Reading Instruction

 

Word study instruction to supporting reading and learning

 

 

K-12 : Making it all work!

 

Assessment and Synergy

 

 

Fluent Reader ch: 6-8

 

Classrooms that Work ch: 10-13

 

Strategies that work ch 12-15

 

 

BRING A BOOK FOR THE BOOK AUCTION ON FRIDAY EVENING!!!

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Class 4

 

June 29/30

 

 

 

 

Wrap up any unfinished discussion and text materials

 

 FINAL EXAM the last activity on Saturday

 

 

Group Presentations given to the class: Begin on Friday evening and continue into Saturday

 

 

Integrating media use into the intermediate grade reading curriculum

 

Identifying and assessing technology resources

 

 

 

Any materials and text chapters that have not yet been discussed in class; questions and answers on all materials and articles from previous classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Course Bibliography

 

Au, K. (1993).  Literacy instruction in multicultural settings.  Fort Worth, TX: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

 

Delpit, L. D. (1988).  The silenced dialogue: Power and pedagogy in education: Other people’s children.  Harvard Educational Review, 58, 280-298.

 

Dillon, D. R. (2000).  Kids Insight: Reconsidering how to meet the literacy needs of all students.  Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

 

Guthrie, J., Schafer, W., Wang, Y., & Afflerbach, P. (1995).  Relationships of instruction to amount of reading: An exploration of social, cognitive, and instructional connections.  Reading Research Quarterly, 30, 8-25.

 

Guthrie, J. T. & Wigfield, A. (Eds.).  (1997).  Reading engagement: Motivating readers through integrated instruction.  Newark, DE: International Reading Association. 

 

Mervar, K., & Hiebert, E. H. (1989).  Literature-selection strategies and amount of reading in two literacy approaches.  In S. McCormick & J. Zutell (Eds.), Cognitive and social perspectives for literacy research and instruction, Thirty-eighth yearbook of the National Reading Conference (pp. 529-535).  Chicago: National Reading Conference. 

 

Pearson, P. D., Roehler, L. R., Dole, J. A., & Duffy, G. G. (1992).  Developing expertise in reading comprehension (pp. 145-199).  In S. J. Samuels & A. E. Farstrup (eds), What research has to say about reading instruction, Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

 

Peterson, R. & Eeds, M. (1990).  Grand conversations: Literature groups in actions.  Richmond Hill, Ontario: Scholastic.

 

Raphael, T. (1986).  Teaching question-answer relationships, revisited.  The Reading Teacher, 39, 516-522.

 

Reutzel, D. R. & Hollingsworth, P. M. (1988).  Highlighting key vocabulary: A generative-reciprocal procedure for teaching selected inference types.  Reading Research Quarterly, 23, 358-378.

 

Ruddell, M. R. (1997).  Teaching content reading and writing (2nd ed.).  Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

 

Zemelman, S., Daniels, H., & Hyde, A.  (1998).  Best practice: New standards for teaching and learning in America’s schools (2nd ed.). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

 

 

RS = Reading Specialist (P-12) 290-3-3-.45.1

FY = Fifth-Year Programs for Teachers 290-3-3-.42