Literacy and Learning Certificate
Participants in this program will develop deep expertise in the teaching of reading, language, and literacy in urban elementary schools. They will learn to take leadership in the design of literacy instruction and assessment based on current research and critical, inclusive practices.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, participants will:
- Design and implement reading/literacy curriculum with theoretical integrity that builds from socio-cultural understandings, critical pedagogical skills, inclusive values, and professional ethics.
- Demonstrate reflective practice that incorporates active inquiry toward innovative practices, critical literacies, and the well-being of all developing learners.
- Include, value, and support readers with diverse perspectives, experiences, languages, cultures, and abilities.
- Develop strategies for individualized assessment of students’ progress including specific strategies to support struggling readers and writers.
- Understand the role of family, culture, and community in schools.
- Select fiction and nonfiction texts appropriate for the learners and curricular goals.
- Participate in professional literacy networks.
- Demonstrate leadership in advocating for students and sound literacy practices and policies.
This Literacy and Learning specialist program is designed for licensed elementary teachers or informal educators who want to develop advanced expertise in teaching literacy to diverse learners using critical theories and pedagogical methods appropriate to the 21st century.
The program accepts students with 1) a baccalaureate degree, 2) a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA in undergraduate or 3.0/4.0 GPA in graduate coursework, and 3) a personal goal statement. The School of Education Graduate advisor can assist students who need help with the admission process.
Students who have an initial teaching license and complete this certificate program will be eligible to apply to the state of Indiana for a Dual License in Reading. All students in this program can count the 15 credits in this certificate program toward a 36 credit Masters of Science in Language Education once they have been admitted.
Plan of study
This 15 credit hour program includes five courses. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 3.00, with a grade of a B- or better in all individual coursework.
Required Courses:
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L500 Instructional Issues in Language Learning (3 credits)
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L502 Socio-psycholinguistic Applications to Reading Instruction (3 credits)
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L504 Diagnosis in Language Difficulties (3 credits)
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One elective such as L545 Advanced Study in the Teaching of Reading in Elementary Schools (3 credits)
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L559 Tradebooks in the Elementary Classroom (3 credits)
