Meeting Pattern

Description

Learning to read is the most important skill students learn in school because it serves as the foundation for all other coursework. Given the importance of this foundational skill, evidence-based practices in literacy development should be employed. This three-course Reading Fundamentals series will help improve your knowledge of evidence-based practices. This knowledge will make you a more informed consumer and an even better advocate for students.

The purpose of this second course in this three-course series is to lay the foundation for effective reading instruction. As part of this course, you will learn about the elements of effective instruction. It is important that all teachers have a firm understanding of effective instructional procedures. Teachers benefit, and more importantly, students benefit, both in terms of their behavior and their academic performance, from effective instruction. Further, you will learn about the importance of reading instruction and read some sobering statistics on reading performance in this country and what happens when individuals are not proficient in reading.

This computer-based instruction course is a self-supporting program that provides instruction, structured practice, and evaluation all on your home or school computer. Technical support information can be found in the Help section of your course.

Note: It is recommended that the Reading Fundamentals courses be taken sequentially; however, it is not mandatory that all three courses be taken.

Syllabus, Objectives, and Outcomes

Objectives:

As a result of this course, participants will demonstrate their ability to:

• Describe the elements of effective instruction.
• Discuss the importance of reading instruction.
• Explain the before, during, and after reading management tips.
• Outline how behavior management approaches can be integrated into instruction.
• Describe the reading theories/models.
• Differentiate between core/comprehensive, strategic/supplemental, and intensive/intervention reading programs.
• Describe the continuum of effective instructional approaches including the continuum of constructivism.
• Provide information on reading psychology and development.
• Trace the evolution of reading from Adams (1990) to Snow et al. (NRC, 1998) to the National Reading Panel Report (2000) and Put Reading First (2006) to recent evidence-based practice guides developed for the Institute of Education Sciences by What Works Clearinghouse and the International Literacy Association.
• Describe key legislation and funding that affect reading.
• Discuss what key legislation means to educators.
• Describe what is meant by Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
• Provide information on how to differentiate instruction for ELLs.

Course Materials (Online):

Title: Reading Fundamentals #2: Laying the Foundation for Effective Reading Instruction, Dr. Karen Lea/Mick Jackson

Review Syllabus: Reading_Fundamentals__2_Karen_Lea_VESi.pdf - COURSE MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED BY AUGUST 15th, 2025.