EDU 3365 - TEACHING LITERACY IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

credits: 3.0
Prospective teachers examine curriculum and instructional theories of and practices in acquiring and developing literacy in grades four through six. The major focus is on assisting all students to use listening, speaking, reading, and writing for acquiring information, developing understanding, constructing literary expressions, conducting critical analysis, performing evaluations, and developing social interactions based on State, Common Core, and National Standards. Objectives: A) Use theoretical views of literacy acquisition and development in planning and implementing literacy instruction for students in grades four through six; B) Plan lessons that are developmentally and academically supportive of the concepts, skills, and strategies essential for learners in grades four through six to acquire and enhance reading, writing, listening, and speaking; C) Assess students’ literacy behaviors and use the results in planning implementing, and assessing literacy instruction; D) Design literature projects that examine literature categories, genres, and story elements, and devise teaching schemes that cultivate multi- and trans-cultural perspectives in students in the grades four through six; E) Prepare literacy lessons that incorporate informational texts, reference materials, and electronic resources; F) Plan a literacy curriculum that integrates New York State, Common Core, and National curriculum standards and guidelines, and curriculum that: a) Enables students in grades four through six to use literacy for information and understanding; b) Enables students in grades four through six to connect text materials to their own lives, broaden their views if diversity, social, historical, and cultural dimensions of texts, and use productive language for self-expression and artistic creation; c) Enables students in grades four through six to use literacy for critical analysis and evaluation; d) Enables students in grades four through six to use literacy for social interaction; G) Design and implement a literacy curriculum that supports and enhances literacy learning for all learners in the classroom; H) Prepare teaching strategies that integrate reading, writing, listening, and speaking within the grades four through six literacy curriculum and devise techniques that connect literacy learning to the content areas - math, science, social studies, art, and music. Method of Instruction: Lecture, discussion, demonstrations, mini-lessons, student presentations, and small group collaborations. Method of Evaluation: Class participation, lessons and activities, literature study, and project.

Prerequisite(s): JUNIOR STANDING and EDU 3335 - CURR, INSTR & ASSESS CHLD: SOCSTD & ART and EDU 3345 - LIT ACQUISITION & DEVLP PRESCH & EL SCH LEARNERS