EDUC - 361. Literacy in the Primary Grades

3 credit(s)
This course is designed to prepare candidates to evaluate and develop children’s literacy in early childhood education classrooms in accordance with standards for the English Language Arts established by New York State and other professional organizations. Emphasis is placed on identifying approaches to literacy and the ways in which various approaches foster the development of young students’ phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and composition. Additional emphases include strategies for early diagnosis and interventions, evaluating developmentally appropriate children’s literature, and fostering optimal learning environments for all learners. A variety of assessment methods, teaching strategies and materials will be critiqued and used in an effort to address the needs of heterogeneous learners including pupils with exceptional skills, pupils with disabilities, and pupils who are English Learners. (10 hours of fieldwork in the primary grades is required.)