Practicum in Reading Difficulties

RDGED 707 Practicum in Reading Difficulties

Online Course 3 semester hours graduate credit
Instructors: Dr. Carolyn Heitz and Mel Thursby
Tuition and Registration
September 19 - December 13, 2013

Prerequisites

Enrollment in the Reading Teacher Certification program and completion of RDGED 701, RDGED 702, RDGED 703 or 704, and RDGED 706

RDGED 706 Assessment and Evaluation of Reading Difficulties must be completed prior to enrollment in RDGED 707 Reading Practicum because the assessments and evaluation reports required for RDGED 707 are introduced and practiced in the prerequisite course.


Description

A practicum in teaching individual students, grades 2-11, with reading difficulties. Assessment of the reader's strengths and needs is followed by the implementation of individualized instruction designed to assist the child in becoming a better reader. The practicum course will be offered online with a requirement that course participants assess then develop and instruct twelve one hour lessons with a struggling reader in their local community.

During the first two weeks of the course, students will explore the principles of effective intervention programs which incorporate on-on-one assessment and instruction, as well as criteria for choosing a client. Clients should not to be selected or contacted until the end of the second week of the course. Information will be provided regarding the details of the assessment and remediation activities.


Audio Recording Software and Microphone Required

All lesson plans must be created in Microsoft Word. All materials used during the lessons must be scanned to create pdf files and submitted with the lesson plan Word documents in the course dropbox.

Audio recordings of selected lessons will be submitted electronically to the course dropbox as mp3 files. Download a free sound editor such as Audacity or GarageBand for recording the lessons. A good microphone, more than any other single piece of hardware, will impact the quality of recorded sound.


Textbooks

  1. Blevins, W. (2006). Phonics from A-Z (2nd ed.) New York, NY: Scholastic. ISBN:978-0-439-84511-3 
    (ALso used in RDGED 701 Developmental Reading, RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques for Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties, and RDGED 706 Assessment & Evaluation)

  2. Caldwell, J. S., & Lesley, L. (2011). Qualitative reading inventory. 5th edition. New York: Pearson Allyn & Bacon. ISBN 978-0-13-701923-6 Includes the QRI Qualitative Reading Inventory CD. The CD will be used during course activities. 
    (Also used in RDGED 706 Assessment and Evaluation).

  3. Caldwell, J.S., & Lesley. L. (2013). Intervention strategies to follow informal reading inventory assessment: So what do I do now?, 3rd edition. New York: Pearson Allyn & Bacon. ISBN 13: 9780123907088 Available from Pearson or new and used from amazon.com. (This book is also used in RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques for Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties and RDGED 707 Practicum in Reading Difficulties.)

  4. Fox, Barbara. (2012). Word identification strategies: building phonics into a classroom reading program, 5th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 9780132611282.
    (Also used in RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques)

  5. McCormick, S. & Zutell, J. (2011). Instructing students who have literacy problems, 6th edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Allyn & Bacon. ISBN 13:9780131381520 This ISBN number is for the value pack. Also available as an e-textbook.
    (Also used in RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques and RDGED 706 Assessment and Evaluation)

  6. National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) booklet : Put reading first: The research building blocks for teaching children to read. 
    (Also used in RDGED 701 Developmental Reading and RDGED 705 Assessment and Evaluation). Free download 56 pg. booklet color PDF (1.25 MB)

  7. Shea, M. (2006). Where's the glitch? How to use running records with older readers, Grades 5-8. Book and CD. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann ISBN 13:978-0-325-00849-3.
    (Also used in RDGED 706 Assessment & Evaluation.) 


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Interpret background and assessment information of an individual with reading disabilities to determine measurable learning outcomes that define what the child is able to do as a result of instruction.

  2. Evaluate and select appropriate instructional interventions for the literacy remediation based upon the assessed needs of the child.

  3. Analyze variables in performance using ongoing assessments to modify instruction and meet the needs of the child.

  4. Formulate a clear, concise and accurate report of assessment results delineating proficiencies and difficulties, reading, writing, and spelling developmental levels, measurable results of instruction in attaining learning outcomes and recommendations of research-based instructional strategies for use at school and in the home to strengthen the child's literacy.


Alignment with State and National Reading Standards

This class will help participants meet the International Reading Association's Standards for Reading Professionals and the Content Guidelines for Reading Teachers State of Wisconsin - DPI (p. 180)


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The School of Education reserves the right to cancel classes that do not meet minimum enrollment requirements.


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Contact Us: School of Education
Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone: 715-232-2253
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"I enrolled in the reading certification program with a desire to strengthen my knowledge base in the areas of developmental reading. In doing so, I made myself a better teacher and a better teaching partner. 

 

I wanted to open the possibilities of what my teaching role could be by adding a reading license to my special education license. With both licenses, I can provide enhanced support to more students. "
~ Sandra Buxton, Special Education Teacher, Verona, Wisconsin

Contact Us

School of Education
Email: Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone: 715-232-2253