Historical Foundations of Literacy

An introductory course in literacy development and instruction of students in grades 5 - 12. The major area of inquiry is the psychological, sociological, cognitive, and linguistic bases of literacy. Specific topics include the role of literacy in society, history of literacy instruction, current schoolwide early childhood, childhood, middle education, and adolescent literacy instructional programs, differentiation of instruction for students with diverse needs, family literacy partnerships, children and adolescent literature, classroom organization, classroom and schoolwide assessment programs, literacy in a technological age, and processes of developing literacy proficiency. Special emphasis is placed on factors underlying development of print awareness and usage at all levels, including word identification and spelling strategies, vocabulary skills, comprehension strategies, composing skills, and the supporting roles of speaking and listening to the development of reading and writing strategies.