The professional education program provides evidence that Reading Specialist certification candidates complete a program of studies in reading the same as the academic content area courses and required electives of a major in a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The program requires certification candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of the fundamental concepts of reading and competence in teaching preschool through high school and adult students reading including:
I.A.- Historical perspectives, methodologies and theories of language and reading acquisition and development including:
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program at Westminster College will study historical perspectives, methodologies and theories of language and reading acquisition and development in the following courses:REA 810, REA 820, REA 850, REA 860
I.B.- Phonemic, morphemic, semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic systems of language and their relation to reading and writing processes including:
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program at Westminster College will study how readers at all levels utilize the four language cueing systems to read and write through the following courses:REA 810, REA 820
I.C.- Classic and contemporary literature, textbooks, and curriculum materials that are appropriate for various age levels and mediums
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program at Westminster College will explore children’s and adolescent literature, commercial reading programs including basals, and curriculum materials in the following courses:REA 830
The professional education program provides evidence of the candidates participation in sequential and developmental field experiences and student teaching, under the supervision of college personnel and cooperating teachers who are well trained, have interpersonal skills and demonstrated competence in teaching. (Candidates that possess an initial Instructional certificate shall be required to participate in an internship for a minimum of 100 hours in lieu of student teaching.) The program also providesevidence that the criteria and competencies for exit from the Reading Specialist program are assessed during the field experiences and student teaching and require the candidates to demonstrate knowledge and competence in fostering student learning through:
II.A.Managing the instructional environment including:
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program at Westminster College are afforded opportunities to create and manage a productive literacy environment in every required Reading Specialist course through field based experiences/practica. More indepth analysis of the teacher’s dynamic role with small groups and whole class learning experiences are examined in the following courses:REA 830, REA 860
II.B.- Planning of instruction in collaboration with other professionals at a variety of instructional levels based upon:
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program will hold curricular conversations with classmates and literacy professionals at their school practicum sites in order to plan curriculum experiences responsive to students’ needs through the following courses:REA 810, REA 820, REA 850, REA 860
II.C.- Selecting, implementing and adapting effective instructional strategies, curriculum resources, and technologies in collaboration with other educators to meet the needs of diverse learners including:
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program will demonstrate their ability to choose, implement, and adjust curricular engagements, resources, and technologies in their work with preschool through adult literacy learners through the following courses:REA 830, REA 860
II.D.- Selecting, developing and administering assessments that involve multiple indicators of student progress and maintain records of information including:
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program will explore assessment and evaluation as an on-going process of gathering information in order to create a responsive literacy curriculum through the following courses:REA 810, REA 820, REA 850
The professional education program provides evidence that Reading Specialist certification candidates demonstrate knowledge and competencies that foster professionalism in school and community settings including:
III.A.- Reading local, state, national, and international publications and belonging to professional organizations
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program will become familiar with various literacy organizations and their publications through the following courses:REA 810, REA 860
III.B.- Collaborating with other educators, allied professionals and the wider community, as well as serving as a resource to teachers, administrators, community and allied professionals
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program will demonstrate their ability to collaborate with others in their school and community settings and become an effective resource through the following courses:REA 830, REA 860
III.C.- Communicating with parents to make them effective partners in the literacy development of their children
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program will become effective literacy learning partners with parents through the following courses:REA 810, REA 820, REA 850
III.D.- Integrity & ethical behavior, professional conduct as stated in Pennsylvania’s Code of Practice & Conduct for Educators, and local, state and federal laws and regulations
Candidates in the Reading Specialist Program will examine ethical practices in every course but especially in the following courses:All REA Courses