Directions:
- Identify two books or texts that your students will read. Make sure the books/texts are grade-level appropriate and align with your content area. See the rubric for specific requirements. You must provide your grade level and content area of licensure in the assignment. The instructor needs to be able to check that your chosen books/texts connect to your content area and that they are grade-level appropriate.
- Combine the course readings from modules 1 and 2 with independent research on literacy instructional strategies in order to create plans to assess students' literacy focusing on each dimension of literacy – oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
- Make sure that your plans connect to the books that your students will read by including specific vocabulary from the book in word-based activities and include specific comprehension strategies when assessing comprehension. Make sure to plan for assessing phonological awareness, phonics, and fluency even if you plan to teach at the secondary level. You should apply different strategies to each book/text and not the same strategies.
- Cite the credible sources from outside this course that you found through your research on literacy instruction to create your plans. Include a synthesis of your research. What did you learn about teaching and assessing literacy from reading modules 1 and 2, along with your independent research? This should be a detailed reflection of learning and how you envision teaching, promoting, and assessing literacy no matter what grade level or content area you teach. If you teach a content area other than literacy, discuss how you can integrate literacy activities in your content area.
Template for the Literacy Instructional Strategies Assignment
Text 1 – Include title, author, and your reason for choosing the text
How will you assess oral language using a specific strategy? This assessment should require students to speak, not read. You must research these strategies because oral language is not discussed in the modules.
How will you assess phonological awareness using a specific strategy? What will you ask students to do? Make sure to conduct research on phonological awareness or use a strategy from module 1.
How will you assess phonics using a specific strategy? What will you ask students to do? Make sure to conduct research or use a strategy from module 1. If you teach grades 4-12, you can substitute word analysis strategies for phonics and phonological awareness. Word analysis is not the same as vocabulary strategies.
How will you assess fluency using a specific strategy? Make sure to conduct research or use a strategy from module 1. What will you ask students to do? I will accept reading readiness strategies instead of fluency strategies from Pre-school teachers.
How will you assess vocabulary using a specific strategy? What specific words will you target? Make sure to conduct research or use a strategy from modules 1 and 2. A quiz or test is not a strategy. Sight words are not the same as vocabulary words.
Which comprehension strategy can you apply to this text? Make sure to conduct research on comprehension strategies and discuss a specific strategy and how you will apply it to the book. Since this assignment addresses both vocabulary and comprehension, you should not be discussing another vocabulary activity, but a specific comprehension strategy.
Cite the credible sources you use for your literacy strategies for text 1.
Text 2 – Include title, author, and your reason for choosing the text
You must use different strategies for this text to be considered for full credit.
How will you assess oral language using a specific strategy? This assessment should require students to speak, not read. You must research these strategies because oral language is not discussed in the modules.
How will you assess phonological awareness using a specific strategy? What will you ask students to do? Make sure to conduct research on phonological awareness or use a strategy from module 1.
How will you assess phonics using a specific strategy? What will you ask students to do? Make sure to conduct research or use a strategy from module 1. If you teach grades 4-12, you can substitute word analysis strategies for phonics and phonological awareness. Word analysis is not the same as vocabulary strategies.
How will you assess vocabulary using a specific strategy? What specific words will you target? Make sure to conduct research or use a strategy from modules 1 and 2. A quiz or test is not a strategy. Sight words are not the same as vocabulary words.
Which comprehension strategy can you apply to this text? Make sure to conduct research on comprehension strategies and discuss a specific strategy and how you will apply it to the book. Since this assignment addresses both vocabulary and comprehension, you should not be discussing another vocabulary activity, but a specific comprehension strategy.
Cite the credible sources you use for your literacy strategies for text 2.
Include a synthesis of your research. What did you learn about teaching and assessing literacy from reading both modules 1 and 2 along with your independent research? This should be a detailed reflection of learning and how you envision teaching, promoting, and assessing literacy no matter what grade level or content area you teach. If you teach a content area other than literacy, make sure to discuss how you can integrate literacy activities in your content area.
You may need to cite an additional credible source for your reflection. In order to receive full credit, the rubric requires 3 credible sources.