NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

COURSE SYLLABUS

Robert T. Taylor

Ext 4154

 

I.       COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

READ 4063, INTRODUCTION TO READING AND WRITING ASSESSMENT

 

II.       PREREQUISITES

            EDUC 3313; EDUC 3113; READ 4023

 

III.       CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF COURSE

                 An introductory course designed to acquaint students with procedures for classroom-based assessment of reading and writing processes.  Emphasis is on using multiple, ongoing assessment information to inform instruction.

 

IV.       KNOWLEDGE BASE

            The Northeastern State University Teacher Education Program is based

            on specific philosophical assumptions about teaching, learning, and

            schooling that underlie all basic programs which prepare professional

            educators to work in public school settings.  These philosophical

            assumptions are stated in terms of the responsibilities and obligations

            of professional educators as stated in the theme of the program.  It is

            assumed that it is the responsibility of professional educators to:

 

            1.  develop thinking/learning skills in their students through the use of

                 appropriate pedagogical strategies, emphasizing reflection;

            2.  serve all students under their charge, regardless of ability, with a sense

                 of efficacy;

            3.  instill self-respect, dignity, and respect for others in their students;

            4.  be sensitive to and develop the ability to capitalize on the learning

                 strengths of individuals who reflect a diversity of cultural backgrounds,

                 abilities and talents; and

            5.  know, understand, and communicate the content of the specialty

                 area(s) in which they are teaching.

 

            These assumptions represent a philosophical approach to teaching and

            learning that is present throughout the coursework and the field

            experiences.

 

 


V.                 CONCEPTIONAL FRAMEWORK

 

The Teacher Education Program at Northeastern State University prepares professional educators to be teaching scholars, educational leaders, and developers of human potential.

 

            Educators as Teaching Scholars

 

                        Teaching scholars read widely and think deeply about subject matter, teaching, and research.  They reflect critically on their own beliefs and their classroom practice in order to make pedagogical improvements.  Teaching scholars use appropriate communication skills, they know how to facilitate authentic learning, and they encourage P-12 students to be critical, creative thinkers, with the ability to be lifelong learners.

 

            Educators as Educational Leaders          

 

Educational leaders believe that all P-12 students are capable of learning and of making educational progress.  Educational leaders serve as advocates for children/adolescents and families, they understand the political nature of teaching, and they are able to inspire and motivate others by modeling effective communication skills, professional demeanor and attitudes.

 

            Educators as Developers of Human Potential

 

Educators who are developers of human potential are committed to the philosophical position that the development of human potential is their fundamental task.

               

VI.   MAJOR GOAL(S)

            The major goals for student enrolled in READ 4063 are:

 

            1.  To understand that classroom based literacy assessment is a daily,

                 ongoing process through which the teacher becomes informed about

                 literacy strengths and needs of individual students.

            2.  To know that in order for classroom based literacy assessment to be

                 valid, the teacher must understand the reading process and how    

                 children become literate.

 

VII.       EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES

 

OUTCOMES

GENERAL COMPETEN-CIES

ELEM ED COMPETEN-CIES

SUB-THEMES

Discuss the reading process

17

7

A

Explain how children become literate

2

3, 6

A

Describe assessment as an ongoing process

8

6, 8

D

 

Describe the role of the classroom teacher with regard to literacy assessment

6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 8, 10

A

 

Administer and interpret informal literacy assessments

8

6

 

Use observation skills to aid assessment

8

6

D

 

Identify instructional strategies appropriate for specific strengths and needs of individual children

12, 14

3, 6, 10

A, B, C, D, E

 

 

VIII.        FIELD-BASED EXPERIENCES COMPONENT

            All teacher education majors are required to participate in three field-

            based experiences.  Pre-Internship I is offered concurrently with the

            elementary and early childhood methods courses and recommended to

            be taken with the secondary education methods courses.  Students

            participate in the Mentoring Program Internship after completing a

            minimum 90 credit hours and normally during their final semester of

            course work at the University.

 

IX.       MULTICULTRUAL DIVERSITY AND GLOBAL AWARENESS           

            COMPONENT

            One of the goals of education is to provide an equal opportunity for all

            children to learn.  Multicultural education is an approach to teaching and

            learning that is based upon democratic values and beliefs, and seeks to

            foster cultural pluralism within culturally diverse societies and an

            interdependent world (Bennet, 1995, P. 13).  One of the goals of this

            course is to provide the teacher education candidate with those skills and

            strategies that are necessary to teach the culturally diverse child in the

            classroom.

 

X.       INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

           

Textbook:  Sections of several textbooks will be assigned from the library and handouts will be passed out to read.

 

                                    

XI.       INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

           

            Lecture, demonstration, and discussion will be used.  Much of the discussion will be centered on the students’ work with the children being tutored.

 

XII.       STUDENT PERFORMACE ACTIVITIES

           

            Each student will assess and tutor based on the assessment at least one child.  The student will also assess one other student of a different age level.  The ongoing assessment will be based on observation of the child as he/she is engaged in literacy activities.  One half of the students grade will be based on these activities and their class discussion of their tutoring.

 

            In addition the following topics will be covered.

 

            Week 1:  The nature of literacy development.

            Week 2:  Causes of reading difficulties

            Week 3:  Basic Assessment Techniques.

            Week 4:  Planning for instruction.  

            Week 5:  Meaning clues, Handicapped children,

            Week 6:  Morton’s reading assessment,

            Week 7:  Informal Reading Inventories, Miscue analysis,

            Week 8:  Working with adolescents and adults

            Week 9:  Mid- term exam

            Week 10:  Phonics ,

            Week 11:  Interpreting results of formal assessments

            Week 12:  Whole language 

            Week 13:  Content Area reading

            Week 14:  Pre reading

            Week 15:  emergent literacy again

            Week 16:  Finals week

           

                        Each week will include discussion of tutoring, students are expected to be professional in these discussions and not to repeat any information about children outside of the class.  The discussion may include topics also covered at different times during the semester.

 

XIII.       TIMETABLE FOR COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS, ACHIEVING

         LEARNING OUTCOMES

           

            See Above

 

XIV  EVALUATION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND LEARNING          OUTCOMES

 

            95  -  100%   =            A

            84  -  94        =            B

            75  -  84        =            C

            60  -  74        =            D

 

XV.            PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT      

            A case study of the student tutored

 

XVI.STUDENT EVALUATION OF THE COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR    

            At the conclusion of the semester, the students will have an opportunity

            to evaluate their instructor and the course READ 4063.  This will be

            done anonymously and will be used as a means to improve instruction,

            course content and the NSU professional education program.  The

            suggestions, comments and/or criticisms from students will be taken

            seriously and hopefully will contribute to the improvement of the course

            and NSU’s education program.

 

XVII.CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION WITH READ 4063 INSTRUCTOR

           

            Dr. Robert T. Taylor, 918-456-5511 ext 4154

            Taylorr@nsuok.edu

            Office in literacy center

            College of Education web cite: nusok.edu/colleges/education.html

 

XVIII.STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

            If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs

            special accommodations, please advise the instructor of such disability

            at the first class attended.