EDRD 640 (140) Current Trends in Literacy Research and Practice (3)
Critical reading and discussion of theories, models, and current research designed to improve language arts instruction and develop understanding of reading and writing as processes. Topics include: the politics of literacy, balanced literacy, content area literacy, writing instruction, bilingual education, response to literature, adolescent literacy, assessment, and multiliteracies.

EDRD 641 (141) Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas (3)
This course is designed for prospective and in-service elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers. It will provide opportunities for an in-depth study of teaching reading and writing in various subject matter areas and present skills and strategies that facilitate reading, writing, and learning with content textbooks, content-area authentic texts, and other media.

EDRD 729 (129) Literacy Methods (3)
This methodological course is designed to give an understanding of reading and writing as literacy processes and develop reading and writing proficiency emphasizing critical thinking and metacognitive skills. The content of the course will focus on integrating communication processes in both English-Language Arts and content areas; children's and adolescent literature and its effective presentation in the classroom; and the role of the teacher as a reflective practitioner.

EDRD 747 (147) Critical Survey of Children's Literature (3)
This course is a review of literary theory and research and survey of children's literature, novels, and picture books published primarily in the past ten years and appropriate for the elementary and middle school student. Selections also include multicultural exposure for students through a variety of genres. Course work will emphasize the research-based, critical evaluation and selection of books; methods for linking reading, writing, and literature; and techniques for guiding children's reading.

EDRD 748 (148) Critical Survey of Literature for Young Adults (3)
This course is a review of literary theory and research and survey of middle and high school level literacy programs and pedagogical practices related to the teaching of poetry, short stories, traditional literature, nonfiction and novels written for the adolescent. Selections also include multicultural exposure for students through a variety of genres. Course work will emphasize the research-based, critical evaluation and selection of books; methods for linking reading, writing, and literature; and techniques for guiding adolescent reading.

EDRD 749 (149) Assessment and Instruction in Reading and Writing (3)
Prerequisites: EDRD 640 (140), EDRD 641(141), EDRD 729, or approved equivalents
This course is an exploration of various cognitive and affective assessments in reading and writing with strategies for using data to adapt instruction for learners with reading difficulties.

EDRD 750 (150) Scholarly Reading and Writing (3)
With demands higher than ever for K-12 educators to be scholars and leaders, this course offers workshop opportunities for literacy educators to expand and refine their literacy skills as consumers of educational research and as writers of scholarly works. Candidates in this course will read and analyze a wide range of scholarly works, both qualitative and quantitative, while also drafting their own original scholarly writing to submit for publication Teachers in the course will interact and participate in decision-making with other teachers and teacher educators as they explore the work of literacy teachers and reading specialists/literacy coach specialists.

EDRD 965 (165) Practicum I: Assessment of Reading and Writing (3)
Prerequisites: EDRD 640 (140), EDRD 641(141), EDRD 729 (129), EDRD 749 (149), or approved equivalents
In this practicum setting, candidates will teach a series of strategy lessons that improve the reading and writing processes of students in their own classroom or in a classroom setting the professor approves. Classroom assessment data will be gathered and analyzed continuously as participants make instructional and evaluative decisions during 50 hours of field work. Students will also create and conduct professional development opportunities for peers.

EDRD 966 (166) Practicum II: Advanced Assessment of Reading and Writing (3)
Prerequisites: All courses in the literacy concentration, including EDRD 640 (140), EDRD 641(141), EDRD 747 (147) or EDRD 748 (148), EDRD 729 (129), EDRD 749 (149), and EDRD 965 (165)
A second practicum in the series of practica in the literacy concentration that involves supervised application of comprehensive assessment and instructional strategies in a clinic setting designed to develop affective and cognitive skills in reading and writing processes in intermediate elementary or middle school aged students. Candidates are expected to spend at least 50 hours with learners in the clinical setting.