ED 609: Literacy Practicum [WOU students only]

COURSE
DESCRIPTION

ED 609 is a practicum to be carried out in schools that requires candidates to work directly with students as they demonstrate the various roles of a reading specialist. The roles to be demonstrated can include: teaching reading, assessing literacy development, developing diverse instructional practices to meet the needs of all students (including English language learners, struggling readers, as well as average and gifted readers), examining the literacy plan for the school, developing 'partnerships in literacy' with parents, and designing professional development opportunities to meet the school's literacy needs.

PREREQUISITES

Typically, the practicum for the reading endorsement program is not taken until at least three-fourths of the coursework is complete. This should be your capstone experience in the endorsement; a chance to use what you have learned throughout your reading coursework.

COURSE
STRUCTURE

Your primary goal for the practicum is to demonstrate your growing literacy proficiency as a beginning reading specialist. Your initial task will be to design a proposal which shows your plan to achieve this goal. We will also concentrate on the many roles of a reading specialist. You will document your activities during this practicum in a written report, including such things as a detailed description of the student population with which you are working, assessments that were given to these students so you know their levels of competency, instructional plans and implementation, a rich description of the outcomes, and a discussion of research that you have read which supports your ideas for instruction and professional development. Since this online Reading Endorsement Practicum is available to teachers across the state it is not possible to provide onsite supervision by university faculty. However, you will be required to document that someone supervised your practicum. You will need to include a sign-off letter indicating that this individual has observed your literacy activities as part of your final report.

STANDARDS

This course supports the following International Reading Association's 2003 Standards for Reading Professionals:

1.4	Demonstrate knowledge of the major components of reading (phonemic awareness, word identification and phonics, vocabulary and background knowledge, fluency, comprehension strategies, and motivation) and how they are integrated in fluent reading.
2.2	Use a wide range of instructional practices, approaches and methods, including technology-based practices, for learners at different stages of development and from differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
2.3	Use a wide range of curriculum materials in effective reading instruction for learners at different stages of reading and writing development and from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
3.1	Use a wide range of assessment tools and practices that range from individual and group standardized tests to individual and group informal classroom assessment strategies, including technology-based assessment tools.
3.3	Use assessment information to plan, evaluate, and revise effective instruction that meets the needs of all students, including those at different developmental stages and those from differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
3.4	Effectively communicate results of assessments to specific individuals (students, parents, caregivers, colleagues, administrators, policymakers, policy officials, community, etc.).
4.1	Use students' interests, reading abilities, and backgrounds as foundations for the reading and writing program.
4.2	Use a large supply of books, technology-based information, and non-print materials representing multiple levels, broad interests, and cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
5.2	Continue to pursue the development of professional knowledge and dispositions.
5.4	Participate in, initiate, implement, and evaluate professional development programs.

PRACTICAL
APPLICATIONS

Upon completion of the practicum, learners will have demonstrated:

Expertise in assessment and instruction of all readers, with particular focus on English language learners and struggling readers.
Literacy leadership within the school in professional development opportunities for teachers, instructional assistants, administrators, and parents/care givers.
Understanding of and involvement in the variety of roles of a reading specialist.

CORE/ELECTIVE

This graduate course fulfills the 3-credit practicum requirement for the Reading Endorsement.

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Bonnie Morihara, Assistant Professor, The Teaching Research Institute, Western Oregon University. Fifteen years as an elementary school teacher, 5 years developing materials and teaching English for Business Purposes, 5 years teaching university courses, and 4 years in the OUS Chancellor's Office working on distance education and teacher education initiatives. (B.A., University of Michigan; M.Ed. and Ph.D., Oregon State University)

TARGET
AUDIENCE

Teachers seeking a Reading Endorsement for their teaching license who have selected Western Oregon University as a home institution.

TIME
COMMITMENT

The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) requires 90 hours of in-school practicum activities.

TEXTBOOK

The required text for this course is Becoming a Literacy Leader: Supporting Learning & Change by Jennifer Allen (2006). Stenhouse. ISBN: 1-57110-419-4. This course is a culmination of your reading endorsement program of study and you will likely want to also use many textbooks from previous literacy courses as references in your school-based assignments.

COST

No course in the ReadOregon curriculum will cost more than $300 per credit, including all fees.

TECHNICAL
REQUIREMENTS

This online course requires access to the Internet with Word/WordPerfect for written assignments. Recommended minimum computer configuration is:

PC running Windows 95 or newer
Macintosh Quadra 700 or better or Power PC
Modem 28.8 or faster, or other network connection
Sound card and speakers (optional)
32 Megabytes or greater of system RAM
Adequate hard disk drive

CONTACT

For more details on this course, please contact Dr. Bonnie Morihara.