READ 518/CI 510: Language and Literacy Development (3 credits)

COURSE
DESCRIPTION

Students will examine the connection between oral language acquisition in early childhood and the development of reading and writing skills, to make informed decisions when choosing instructional strategies that integrate the development of these skills. Topics include:

Foundations of language development in the brain,
Connections between early oral language competence and emergent literacy development,
Development of phonological skills, grammatical knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing
Individual differences in language and literacy development.

Students will discuss relevant language and literacy research throughout the course.

PREREQUISITES

Graduate standing. It is assumed that course participants will have access to elementary level students (which may include older students with literacy skills at the elementary level) in order to complete some assignments.

COURSE
STRUCTURE

Fully online delivery using Blackboard. No face-to-face interactions. Course Readings; Discussion Board, Threaded Discussion; Reflective Journals; Authentic activities including providing responses on selected topics, observations, and exercises to share with one another; Group Activities.

STANDARDS

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

1.1	Demonstrate knowledge of psychological, sociological, and linguistic foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction.
1.2	Demonstrate knowledge of reading research and histories of reading.
1.3	Demonstrate knowledge of language development and reading acquisition and the variations related to cultural and linguistic diversity.
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.

PRACTICAL
APPLICATIONS

Teachers will understand:

the connection between oral language acquisition in early childhood and the development of reading and writing skills.
the nature of early language development in the brain.
children's thinking processes as they develop phonological skills, grammatical knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills.
the interrelatedness of early oral language competence and emergent literacy development.
some major reasons for individual differences in language and literacy development and what teachers can do about them.
the instructional implications of the connection between oral language and literacy development.

CORE/ELECTIVE

This graduate course can be used as a core or elective course in the Literacy Foundations thematic area in the 24-credit Reading Endorsement program, as 3 elective credits for those in the 12-credit Literary Education program, or as a stand-alone course.

INSTRUCTOR

Frances Verbruggen, received her reading endorsement in 2004 through PSU/ReadOregon. She has worked in K-12 schools since 1990 teaching French, Spanish, ESOL, and as a reading specialist and mentor coach. (BA, University of Maryland; MA, University of Illinois; MAT, George Fox University; doctoral candidate, Portland State University)

TARGET
AUDIENCE

This course covers language and literacy development fundamentals for teachers who have students reading at the elementary level (including older students with literacy skills at the elementary level).

TIME
COMMITMENT

Students should expect to spend approximately 9 hours per week for 10 weeks in course-related activities (e.g., reading the text and course materials, posting to discussion forums, completing written and teacher's classroom-based assignments, etc). This course is online and does not require in-person attendance. Assignments are completed on the learner's time schedule and are due as posted.

TEXTBOOK

A textbook is required for this course. Please check with PSU's ReadOregon program.

CONTACT

For more details on this course, please contact Frances Verbruggen or Elizabeth Snyder.