Students will develop an understanding of the language and cognitive precursors to reading acquisition. They will demonstrate knowledge of word recognition and the reading acquisition process. They will also demonstrate an understanding of the role of experiential background, prior knowledge, motivation, and personal significance to developing readers. This course meets the Maryland State Department of Education reading requirement for an initial certification or renewal of a certificate in early childhood education, elementary education, special education infant/primary, and special education generic elementary/middle.

Overall Course Objectives

Once you have completed this course you will be able t

• Explain the relationship and role of each component of language acquisition to reading development.
• Describe brain research (historical and current as it relates to reading acquisition).
• Discuss the interactive nature of the reading process.
• Analyze the effects of phonemic awareness and phonics on developing readers.
• Demonstrate the essential connection between language development, reading acquisition, and writing.
• Demonstrate knowledge of specific instructional strategies to enhance student's reading proficiency.
• Evaluate current research in the teaching of reading.

Major Course Topics

• Overview of the Reading Process
• Current trends and hot topics in reading
• Learning theories
• Brain research
• Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning
• Phonemic Awareness
• Word Recognition Skills
• Phonics
• Reading Process
• Vocabulary Development
• Reading Comprehension
• Reading Readiness/Beginning Reading
• Metacognition

Course Format

• There is a lot of material to cover this semester. The key to success is to keep up and submit your work on time. Therefore, this class is not self-paced. An assignment is due every week.
• By electing to take this class online, you are assuming responsibility for your own learning. Because there will be no instructor-led lectures or demonstrations, you will need to read and complete assignments in order to learn the course material. For self-motivated students who thrive on learning through reading, this is an ideal course. However, students who learn best through lectures, group interaction or who have difficulty learning through reading, should take the on-campus section instead of this online class.
• This class does not require on-campus meetings.
• This course does not require real-time chats.
• The communication in the class will take place through emails and threaded class discussions.

Orientation

This course does have a face-to-face orientation. Check the list of scheduled orientations for the date, time, and location. There is a required orientation that you will complete online.

Course Requirements

Review the "What you should know before you register" section of the Distance Learning Homepage.

• Active participation in all aspects of the course
• Weekly Assignments
• Formal papers
• Lesson plans

Texts and Materials

Required:

• Graves, Michael F., Connie, & Graves, Bonnie B. (2007). Teaching Reading in the 21st Century (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon
• Jensen, Eric, (2005). Teaching with the Brain in Mind (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Buy your textbooks from our online Bookstore, or visit our Bookstore. (Maps)

Technical Requirements and Plug-Ins:

Review the Technical Requirements link above. The following plug-ins are required for this course:

• Internet Explorer
• Netscape
• PowerPoint Viewer, if you don’t have the full version of Microsoft PowerPoint
• Word Viewer, if you don’t have the full version of Microsoft Word

If you have any questions or comments about this course, please send a message to Cheryl Dzubak, cdzubak@howardcc.edu.

Last updated on 08-Oct-07 © Howard Community College