This course will explore adolescent literature and the variety of formats in which it exists.  Attention will be given to understanding how students comprehend content material and to the socio-cultural influences on reading, reading/writing relationships, and assessment of content reading.  Ways to teach students to critically read and create media will be discussed.  Research on writing will be reviewed and methods of teaching writing for and models for responding to and evaluating student writing will be explored.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this program,

1. Identify with their experiences in the reading and writing process and how that experience affects their own teaching style.
2. Explore issues related to teaching reading, writing, and literacy practices in secondary classrooms.
3. Familiarize themselves with culturally diverse texts to incorporate global thinking into secondary classrooms.
4. Plan units that incorporate reading and writing strategies in a secondary classroom.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week.

Week 1: Unit 1 – Our Literacy Story

Week 2: Unit 2 – Choosing Appropriate Reading Sources

Week 3: Unit 3 – Teaching Strategies: Literature

Week 4: Unit 4 – Nonfiction: Reading Strategies

Week 5: Unit 5 – Teaching Strategies: Creative Writing

Week 6: Unit 6 – Teaching Strategies: Essays

Week 7: Unit 7 – Putting It into Practice: Creating Reading & Writing Activities

Week 8: Unit 8 – Putting it into Practice: Creating Reading & Writing Assessments

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.  The Learning Guides for all units open on the first day of class.  Please review all Learning Guides to access the readings, review assignments, etc.

Unit 1: Our Literacy Story

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete the Reflective Portfolio Assignment

Unit 2: Choosing Appropriate Reading Sources

• Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete the Reflective Portfolio Assignment

Unit 3: Teaching Strategies: Literature

• Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Begin and participate in the Group Activity (Due Unit 7)
• Complete the Reflective Portfolio Assignment

Unit 4: Nonfiction: Reading Strategies

• Peer assess Unit 3 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Continue to participate in the Group Activity
• Complete the Reflective Portfolio Assignment

Unit 5: Teaching Strategies: Creative Writing

• Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Continue to participate in the Group Activity
• Complete the Reflective Portfolio Assignment

Unit 6: Teaching Strategies: Essays

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Continue to participate in the Group Activity
• Complete the Reflective Portfolio Assignment

 Unit 7: Putting It into Practice: Creating Reading & Writing Activities

• Peer assess Unit 6 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Submit the final Group Activity
• Complete the Reflective Portfolio Assignment

Unit 8: Putting it into Practice: Creating Reading & Writing Assessments

• Peer assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete the Reflective Portfolio Assignment
• Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation