EDU-EDU8618 - Supporting Reading for Middle School Learners

Course Description

This teacher professional development course provides you with an understanding of your middle school students' reading behaviors and teaches you how to assess their reading levels and recognize specific behaviors related to reading progression. You will learn practice strategies for teaching both "within the text" and "beyond the text" reading behaviors using the many activities, mini-lessons, and resources provided within this course. You will build a reading support plan by the end of the course to implement alongside your resources in the classroom.

Course Outline

1. Understanding Reading Behaviors

This section explains the methods required to help determine your middle school students' reading level, then discusses the general reading behaviors students at each middle school grade level should exhibit.

2. Reading Behavior Progression & Choosing a Focus Behavior

You will learn how skills progress in students as reading levels increase. You will also learn how to pinpoint the behaviors your student needs to master to progress to the next reading level.

3. Reading Behaviors Within the Text

You will explore mini lessons, activities, anchor charts, and graphic organizers to help teach "within the text" reading behaviors. You will also learn the function of a variety of resources that will help you plan and organize your reading lessons.

4. Reading Behaviors Beyond the Text

You will explore mini lessons, activities, anchor charts, and graphic organizers designed to help you teach "beyond the text" reading behaviors.

5. Putting it All Together

Using the sample provided, build your own reading support plan for your middle school students

6. Applying What you Have Learned

Get ideas on how to implement the concepts into your classroom, find a list of online resources that feature reading strategies, and read the research behind this type of learning in the classroom.

Learner Outcomes

Analyze a variety of methods to determine a student's reading level
Compare different reading behaviors and choose a focus for your instruction
Evaluate a variety of strategies, including mini-lessons, graphic organizers, anchor charts, and group activities to support your reading instruction
Build a reading plan for support in your classroom

Notes

This is an asynchronous online course offered through the third party vendor ed2go. This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook. The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online. You will have three months to complete the course, and may complete the course earlier than the three month period. Editing of a Microsoft Word document is required in this course. You may use a free version of Microsoft Word Online or Google Docs if you do not have Microsoft Office installed on your computer.