ERL 450 Literacy in the Content Areas

The purpose of this course is to understand the many complex cognitive processes and factors that contribute to skillful comprehension of text. Candidates examine the Language Comprehension portion of Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001) which encompasses background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge and analyze the reciprocal nature of the strands within The Rope, how they contribute to skilled reading, and how to accommodate individual differences in cognitive, linguistic, sociocultural, and behavioral learning. Course includes components of state requirements for certification. 

 

Credits

4

Outcomes

1. This course will prepare students to:
2. Demonstrate understanding of the Language Comprehension portion of Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001) and the many complex and interrelated factors that contribute to skilled reading.
3. Analyze the reciprocal nature of background knowledge, vocabulary, and the visual/cognitive process of inference.
4. Design a literacy unit plan with a focus on a specific content area (science, social justice, or social studies) topic or theme.
5. Design instruction that builds background knowledge for students at varying levels of understanding on a topic or theme.
6. Design instruction focused on the acquisition of tier 2 and tier 3 academic vocabulary.
7. Acquire print or digital text resources focused on a specific topic or theme at varying degrees of text complexity.