Catalog Description: Practicum experience for reading specialist candidates to develop reading specialist and literacy coaching techniques important to the work in schools. Practicum will meet/exceed minimum requirements set forth by the university, state and accrediting agencies. Completion of emphasis area and separate application to College of Education is required -summer only. Not to be used for initial certification. Three credits.

Unit Mission, Philosophy, Values:

Our Mission:

“Teaching, Leading and Learning in a Democratic Society”

The College of Education prepares candidates who enhance the individual growth of their students while working to establish policies and practices that promote the principles of democratic education. The College articulates this mission as Teaching, Leading, and Learning in a Democratic Society.

Philosophy:

Student Potential, Ethical Implications

Believing that schools function as social and political entities as well as for the growth of individuals, the College of Education prepares teachers and leaders

a) to enhance the academic and personal potential of their students

b) to evaluate the social and ethical implications of educational policies and practices.

Values:

“Expertise, Equity, Liberal Education, Social Responsibility”

The College of Education values expertise to guide our practice, equity to guide our interactions, liberal education to guide our perspectives, and social responsibility to guide our commitment to democratic education. We value these ideals in our preparation of candidates, our development of faculty, and our relationships with the larger community we serve.

Unit and Program Standards:

Common Unit Standards: Michigan Department of Education (MDE), National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

Specialty Program Standards: International Reading Association Standards for Reading Professionals.

Course Standards and Assessments:

Course Standards: IRA Standards: 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3.

Common Course Assessments:

Practicum for Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach

Major Topics:

 Role of Reading Specialist in schools and classrooms

 Role of Reading Specialist in working with students

 Role of Literacy Coach in working with classroom teachers

 Role of Literacy Coach as a school leader

 Coaching techniques, observation techniques and how to teach teachers.

Course Knowledge Base:

Bean, R. M. (2004). The reading specialist: Leadership for the classroom, school, and community. New York: Guilford Press.

Casey, K. (2006). Literacy coaching: The essentials. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Fager, A. M., & Miller, J. A. (Eds.), (1992). Using inquiry in reading education. College reading association monograph series.

IRA (2004). Preparing reading professionals: A collection from the international reading association. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

Pearson, P. D. (Ed.) 1984. Handbook of reading research. New York: Longman.

Puig, E. A., & Froelich, K. S. (2007). The literacy coach: Guiding in the right direction. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Quatroche, D. J., & Wepner, S. B. (2008). Developing reading specialists as leaders: New directions for program development. Literacy Research and Instruction, 47, 99-115.

Reading Teacher (1980 to Current). A journal of the International Reading Association.

Reading Research Quarterly (1980 to Current). A journal of the International Reading Association.

Toll, C. A. (2005). The literacy coach’s survival guide. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

Toll, C. A. (2006). The literacy coach’s desk reference: Processes and perspectives for effective coaching. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English.

Walpole, S., & McKenna, M. C. (2004). The literacy coach’s handbook: A guide to research-based practice. New York: The Guildford Press.

Wepner, S. B., Strickland, D. S., & Feeley, J. T. (2002). The administration and supervision of reading programs,(3rd ed.). NY: Teachers College Press.

Vogt, M.E., & Shearer, B. A. (2003). Reading specialists in the real world: A sociocultural view. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.