Course Syllabus
Additional Required Readings:
These Required Readings are available for purchase at the College of Education Publications and Copy Center .
Contact Information: 505-277-7276 Email: coepub@unm.edu
NOTE: M-F, 8am-12pm/1pm-5pm
Literacy Project
Template to use for Literacy Project: Template for the LiteracyProject_2015
Spring 2015 Literacy Project Description and Grading Checklists: Electronic Copy of description of project and grading checklists
Literacy Project: Parent/Guardian Consent Forms: English version
Literacy Project: Parent/Guardian Consent Forms: Spanish version
Literacy Research Review Rubric
Electronic Copy of the Rubric
Lib Guides: Check this out - UNM Library resource to help you in searching research databases
Writing Guidelines and Resources
UNM Graduate Resource Center
Purdue Online Writing Lab
UNM Zimmerman Library Research Tutorials
Quick APA Information web site
New Mexico Public Education Department
CCEGBE - New Mexico Extended Common Core Standards (ELA)Final (includes those for Language Arts)
Small Group Discussion: Role Sheets
Discussion Director (1s)
Questioner (2s)
Summarizer (3s)
Passage Master (4s)
Connector (5s)
Illustrator
Play Free Rice and build your vocabulary while helping support the United Nations World Food Programs
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with information on selection and implementation of appropriate reading instruction approaches for students with moderate or severe disabilities, such as those with Down syndrome, autism, intellectual disability, or cerebral palsy. Instruction in inclusive settings will be emphasized. Students will learn to differentiate basic components of reading instruction (e.g., phonemic awareness, phonics instruction, fluency, vocabulary, text comprehension) to meet individual student learning needs. Varied assessment tools and progress monitoring methods will be examined. In addition, students will practice planning, organizing, implementing, and monitoring reading instruction based on assessment data by working with an individual student with moderate or severe disabilities across the semester.
Class Schedule & Handouts
NOTE: Quickwrites will take place during class sessions throughout the semester but are not listed under assignments because the dates for these are fluid and based on students’ progression through class concepts and readings.
Week 1
Introduction to the course
Historical overview of reading instruction for individuals with moderate or severe disabilities
Handout: What is Literacy?
Week 2
Language as the foundations for literacy
Stages of literacy development
Guest Speaker: Jessica Donaldson, CCC-S/LP
Handouts: (1) Language Development and (2) Literacy Development
Yoder et al.’s A Literacy Bill of Rights
Week 3
Where to start: Assessment
Handouts: Assessment
Assignment Due: Plagiarism Tutorial Certificate
CHECK OUT this blog about the power of reading in creating inclusive schools and communities
http://www.theriotrocks.org/reading-for-inclusion
Week 4
Foundations for literacy: Brain based literacy ; Creating engaging instruction
Handouts: Working with Texts.pdf
LINK to information on Literature Circles
Week 5
Emergent Literacy Instruction and Individuals with Moderate or Severe Disabilities
Handouts: Emergent Literacy
Characteristics of the Emergent Literacy Learner
50 Wordless Picture 50_wordless_picbooks.doc
More Wordless Books (new books)
Check out this website: List of great books by grade level and gender compiled by “kids who hate to read”
Assignment Due: Literacy History
CHECK OUT: Best Apps for Special Education
Week 6
Word Recognition Instruction: Automatic word recognition
Word recognition with students who do not speak
Handout #1: Word Recognition Strategies
Handouts#2: Non-Verbal Reading Approach: Classroom Modifications.doc
Communication Considerations.doc
Literacy Considerations.doc
Reading Considerations.doc
Week 7
Word Recognition Instruction: Phonological Awareness and Phonics
Handouts:
Assignment Due: Show articles for Lit Review to instructor
Rob’s example of a table for working with your articles for theLit Review
Week 8
Fluency
Handouts: Fluency
Assignment Due: Comprehensive Assessment and Instructional Plan
Week 9 SPRING BREAK
Week 10
Word Recognition Instruction
Language Experience Instructional Approaches
Handouts: Language Experience Approach NOTE: be sure you’ve done the readings for this week - we’ll be doing a QuickWrite related to these.
Assignment Due: Literature Review (Remember to use Turnitin to turn in the paper; bring hard copies of the articles to turn in at class.)
Interesting website on using Language Experience with students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing:
Week 11
Vocabulary Development & Reading Comprehension Instruction
Handouts:Vocabulary Instruction & Development
Week 12
Vocabulary & Comprehension Instruction
Handouts: Reading_Comprehension
Week 13
Written Communication
Handouts:Composing Text
Adapted Pencils (excellent resource for teachers for assessment and instruction)
Week 14
Literacy for English language learners with severe disabilities
Literacy across the lifespan
Working with Older Learners? Check out Route 66 Reading Putting it All Together
Handouts - Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Motivation
Guest Speaker: Rhonda Lopez, National Board Certified Teacher, Instructional Coach
ProjectGLAD Certified Key Trainer
Website to learn more about GLAD www.projectglad.com
Week 15
Putting it all together
Handouts:
Guest Speakers: Jeanne Desjardin and ARCA Theater Group
Week 16
Wrap-up of course
Assignments Due: 1. Demonstrate Electronic/Adapting an Age Appropriate Book
2. Summary of Progress
Additional Resources
Websites
Website for Deaf-Blind Project: http://www.nationaldb.org/literacy/ Excellent resource - check it out!
Modifying Books for Students with Multiple Disabilities Another wonderful resource with many, many ideas.
CAST UDL Book Builder This site allows you and your students to read accessible fiction and nonfiction books on a range of topics for readers of all ages. It also allows you to create your own accessible books using the principles of UDL.
Tar Heel Reader This site has free accessible books on a range of topics. They are easy-to-read and include some titles that are appropriate for older emergent or transitional readers. You can also use the tools provided to create your own books - very easy to use.
Speakaboos - Website offers numerous stories, songs, and activities that are read outloud (also a Spanish version of stories). First 10 stories are free so check it out!
Accessible Textbook Website Site includes resources that provide texts at different levels.
PowerPoint Community Signs - Sandra is sharing these with the class.
Picture Books for Older Readers - This site describes numerous wordless picture books with themes appropriate for middle, and high school age students.
Read-Write-Think This website, sponsored by the International Reading Association, offers numerous resources for teachers, including detailed lesson plans on all aspects of literacy learning.
News-2You. This is a weekly newspaper written for individuals who are beginning readers and those with disabilities. The paper is available in three reading levels, including a version that reads the paper and versions that include picture symbols. There is also a Spanish version. The site includes a multitude of related literacy activities and games. There is a subscription fee but you can check out the site extensively before purchase to be sure it fits your needs.
Making Books with Boardmaker - This site has books that have been adapted using picture symbols (PECS and Boardmaker symbols) - excellent resource!
Starfall A fun and useful website for a variety of reading activities.
Great Videos on Reading Topics. Scroll down to Watch Online section and check them out.
Learning Page - free downloadable books, activities, etc.
Literacy Connections - This website has links to many, many websites with activities for teaching sight words, resources, etc. Open the page and scroll to the bottom to find the links.
Dolch Word Cards with Braille & Pictures
An ABC Book created by children
Creating Comics with your Students - great website, flexible and fun!
Video Resources
Video of Teaching Phonemic Awareness
Video of Using Concepts About Print to assess a child's understanding of literacy
Fluency (Project Mainsteep)
