Early Childhood: The Science of Reading PreK-4

How do we ensure that all students are on a successful path to literacy? What do students need at different stages of development to become skilled readers? Science has informed what we know about how students learn to read and write. This course is designed to explore the research that reading experts, including cognitive scientists, have conducted on literacy development, and to draw on this knowledge to consider strategies to support learners in the development of literacy skills.

Practical classroom-based activities informed by research on decoding, vocabulary and the impact of oral language development on reading comprehension focuses on developmentally appropriate practice. Participants collaborate to create classroom tools to bridge research and practice as they explore ways to blend reading and writing instruction with phonological awareness.

Course texts: Research articles to be provided and “The Plainer Truths of Teaching, Learning and Literacy” by Morton Botel and Lara Paparo.