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DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING AND LEADERSHIP
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
Fall 2011
Course Number: 870
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Dr. Susan Knell
Office: 112H Hughes Hall
E-Mail: sknell@pittstate.edu
Title: Developmental Reading Instruction
Course Time Schedule: Web-Based
Office Phone: (620) 235-4506
Office Hours: By Appointment
As meat to the body, so is reading to the soul.
--Seneca
COURSE DESCRIPTION (Catalog)
An advanced survey of the fundamental principles and practices of teaching
developmental reading in preK-12.
PREREQUISITES
Admission to Graduate School
PURPOSE
1.
The graduate reading program is designed to develop in educators a
greater understanding of and competence in teaching literacy; a strong
commitment to students who are developing literacy skills; and a caring
environment in which students can learn.
2.
The purpose of the course is to provide background in and the study of
literacy through current instructional methods and materials, strategies for
teaching, and types of assessment techniques which reflect the latest
research in solving problems in literacy.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
KSDE Standards for Reading Specialist: Early Childhood through Late
Adolescence/Adulthood as Addressed Through the PSU Graduate Knowledge Base
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Standard #1: The reading specialist demonstrates knowledge of the foundations of
reading and writing processes and instruction.
Standard #2: The reading specialist demonstrates the use of a wide range of
instructional practices, approaches, methods and curriculum materials to support
reading and writing instruction.
PSU Graduate Knowledge Base
B. Communication
The educator will demonstrate specific attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviors which
promote effective communication.
D. Instruction and Assessment
The educator will demonstrate specific attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviors which
reflect advocating, nurturing and sustaining best practices and multiple
assessments.
E. Diversity
The educator will demonstrate specific attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviors which
provide equitable learning opportunities for all.
REQUIRED TEXT
Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well, Regie Routman,
Heinemann Publishers, ISBN# 0-325-00492-7
REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION
Points
Evaluation is based on:
1. Homepage Update
20
2. Literacy Strategies/Reflections 10 @ 20 pts. each
200
3. Discussion Forums 12 @ 20 pts. each
240
4. Literacy Project
100
5. Tegrity Viewings 4@ 20 pts. each
80
6. Podcast Viewing & Reflection
50
7. My Top Ten Book List
25
There will be a 25% grade reduction in work turned in late. Work is considered late if
submitted after 11:00 P.M. on the due date. No late work will be accepted after
December 9th.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
Candidates are expected to follow the PSU Academic Honesty Policy, which speaks to
unethical acts associated with coursework or grades. The policy lists specifically, but is
not limited to, the following:

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
giving or receiving unauthorized aid on examinations, preparation of notebooks,
papers, and other assignments:
handing in the same work for more than one course without instructor permission;
plagiarism (examples of plagiarism will be discussed in class)
Full text of the policy can be found in the PSU University Catalog.
Violations of the policy will be presented by course instructor to the University
Academic Honesty Committee for review and action.
If the instructor finds evidence of cheating of any kind, such as plagiarism (copying
from internet or other sources), copying work from other candidates, etc. the
candidate will be notified of the charge and will be immediately dropped from the
class.
Please note that all email to peers and instructor should be sent through Angel. In turn
all messages that I will send to you will be through Angel, so it will be important that
you check you Angel account each day.
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and
wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
--Charles W. Eliot, The Happy Life (1896)
IX. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. HOMEPAGE UPDATE
Due: Wed. Aug. 24
This is a way for all of us to get to know each other online. If you have problems
uploading your photo, contact the Gorilla Geeks.
Please follow these instructions to update your Home Page:
Click on "Preferences" from the left sidebar > "Personal Information" > type in the
following information in the appropriate boxes and then submit:
A. About Me: Share any personal/professional information that will help us get to know
you.
B. Upload a picture of yourself. Photo will have to be saved as “email sized”.
To view others’ homepages, click on the "Communicate" tab, and click on "Course
Roster", then “Show Pictures”.
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2.
LITERACY STRATEGIES/REFLECTIONS
Due Dates: Mondays by 11:00 P.M. Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, Nov. 7, 14
Each week you will read about various literacy strategies on different topics from the
Routman text. You will choose one of the strategies you read about in your text to
implement in your own classroom each week. If you do not have your own classroom, it
is your responsibility to find a classroom where you can teach the strategy. (At a
minimum you need a small group. Working with only one student will not be accepted).
You will also choose the IRA/NCTE Language Arts Standard that the strategy meets and
type out the standard(s) (See standards information in Websites folder in Lessons). Each
strategy should also be appropriate for English Language Learners. In writing you will
describe the activity and the steps you used, along with any student reaction, comments,
attitudes, etc. Include a statement explaining how your chosen strategy will benefit
English Language Learners as well as the rest of the students. Then reflect in writing
about the success or problems associated with the strategy. Your written reflections
should be personal, anecdotal, and honest. Reflect on what went well, what did or didn't
work how you may have adapted the activity/strategy to meet your students' needs, etc.
Please use the following headings in your submissions:
Title of Strategy/grade level(s):
Source (Include page #):
IRA/NCTE Standard Met (Please type out the standard beside the number):
Strategy Description:
Reflection:
Photo or Visual Example of Strategy:
Assessment Criteria
Your reflections will be graded on appropriateness of activity/strategy chosen for age
group, quality of writing, depth of thought, and number and quality of examples and
anecdotes. See rubric.
3. DISCUSSION FORUMS
Discussion Forum Guidelines
Candidates are required to participate in 12 discussion topics
and also respond to at least one other group member’s responses to the topics.
Each response should be thoughtful, in-depth, and reflect evidence
that the text has been read (cite page #) to assist in discussing the topics. Make
reference to the text somewhere in your responses.
Responses should be grammatically correct with no spelling or punctuation errors.
When responding to the other group members’ responses, discussions will remain
professional and thoughtful.
Remember, Great Minds Don’t Think Alike! You will not always agree with others’
responses. Keep discussions polite and professional in tone. Do not use ALL
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CAPITALS when speaking to someone electronically! This is very rude. As you will see
after you have been working electronically for a while, all capital letters feel as if
someone were shouting at you. Do not write in all bold letters, either. This is rude
because it is very hard to read after awhile.
Be cautious with irony, humor, and satire. Do not jump to conclusions about others'
communications and try to mark yours appropriately. The :-) (or smiley) is one tool for
this purpose. Remember: You cannot see the people you are communicating with, and
they cannot see you. Because you cannot rely on visual cues, you need to exercise an
additional measure of care when you communicate online.
If you are truly angry, take a break before responding; get some perspective. Be polite.
Dialogue on a friendly basis. All discussion responses should be submitted no later than
11:00 p.m. each due date.
Please read all responses in your group, as someone may have asked you a question that
you would need to answer for them.
All Discussion Forum Readings are from the Routman text, Reading Essentials. See
Rubric for Discussion Forums.
Discussion Forum Topic #1
Read chapter 1: Simplify Your Teaching Life. Discuss at least one thought or idea from
the chapter that impacted you and why.
Due: Wed., Aug. 24. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday,
Aug. 25.
Discussion Forum Topic #2
Read chapter 2: Bond with Your Students. Based on the text, discuss how you bond with
your students and how you get to know them as readers.
Due: Wed., Aug. 31. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday,
Sept. 1.
Discussion Forum Topic #3
Read chapter 3: Share Your Reading Life. Discuss the importance of teachers being
readers and key points you learned from this chapter.
Due: Wed., Sept. 7. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday,
Sept. 8.
Discussion Forum Topic #4
Read chapter 4: Teach with a Sense of Urgency. Discuss what teaching with a sense of
urgency means and how Routman’s Optimal Learning Model can be used with your
students.
Due: Wed., Sept. 14. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday,
Sept. 15.
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Discussion Forum Topic #5
Read Ch. 5: Organize an Outstanding Classroom Library. Discuss the importance of
classroom libraries and their necessity. Also discuss ideas you are implementing or plan
to based on this chapter.
Due: Wed., Sept. 21. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday,
Sept. 22.
Discussion Forum Topic #6
Read chapter 6: Plan for and Monitor Independent Reading. Based on the chapter,
discuss how you would plan for an independent reading program and also how to find
“just-right” books for your students.
Due: Wed., Sept. 28. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday,
Sept. 29.
Discussion Forum Topic #7
Read chapter 7: Make Assessment Instruction’s Working Partner. Discuss how you can
or do make assessment and evaluation a daily routine. Also discuss, per the chapter, how
you can balance high stakes testing with regular informal assessment.
Due: Wed., Oct. 5. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday, Oct.
6.
Discussion Forum Topic #8
Read chapter 8: Teach comprehension. Choose ideas/thoughts/strategies in the chapter
that were important to you and discuss.
Due: Wed., Oct. 12. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday, Oct.
13.
Discussion Forum Topic #9
Read chapter 9: Emphasize Shared Reading. Discuss the meaning of shared reading and
how you can make shared reading a part of your reading program.
Due: Wed., Oct. 19. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday, Oct.
20.
Discussion Forum Topic #10
Read chapter 10: Examine Guided Reading. Discuss how guided reading fits in the
Optimal Learning Model. Also discuss how guided reading should focus on meaning.
Due: Wed., Oct. 26. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday, Oct.
27.
Discussion Forum Topic #11
Read chapter 11: Build on Best Practice, Know the Research, and Use Programs as a
Resource. Discuss how you stay current about relevant reading research and how you
apply research in your teaching. Also discuss the use of commercial reading programs
and their use as only a resource.
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Due: Wed., Nov 2. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday, Nov.
3.
Discussion Forum Topic #12
Read chapter 12: You Only Have So Much Time. Based on the chapter, discuss how to
make every minute count and trusting your own experiences. Also discuss what makes
effective professional development for teachers and what does not. Don’t neglect reading
Enjoy!, p. 220 and share your thoughts with your group.
Due: Wed., Nov. 9. Responses to group members due no later than Thursday, Nov.
10.
4.
Literacy Project
Due Date: Monday, Dec. 5
You will research an area of literacy that interests you, or an area in which you would
like to become more knowledgeable. The Routman text contains a wealth of ideas to
inspire you. Project must include a field experience (you must include students in some
way) and must be something you are not already doing in your classroom. Ideas should
come from your course readings and/or literacy strategies. No commercial programs,
please! You will compile information and resources on your topic and submit it as a
power point presentation. Please let me know your topic no later than Oct. 4. See
rubric.
5. Tegrity Viewings
I will record 4 different lectures on Tegrity that you will view. These will be announced
throughout the semester through Angel e-mail and each topic viewing is worth 20 points.
6. IRA Podcast Viewing
Choose one of the podcasts at the IRA website (website is found in the Websites folder in
Lessons) to listen to. Then submit a one page reflection on what you learned from
listening to the podcast. Due anytime during the semester, no later than Thurs. Dec.
1.
7. My Top Ten Book List
Choose 10 of your favorite children’s/ya and/or literacy professional books and submit
them on the appropriate form in Lessons. I will then compile them together so that
everyone has an extensive list of favorites, including mine. Due November 22. 25 pts.
To read without reflecting, is like eating without digesting.
--Edmund Burke
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