Literacy

Master of Education

About This Program | Program Requirements | Admission

About This Program

Program Purpose

The Master of Education degree in Literacy offers classroom teachers an opportunity to increase knowledge, skills, and techniques in all aspects of reading and writing instruction. The course content is focused at the classroom level to better enable teachers to meet diverse literacy needs of students at the elementary, middle/secondary school level. The program addresses the most current theories and practices for developing strategies and techniques for teaching reading and writing, effective schools research, and educational reform and technology. Course content includes literacy theories, research results, current strategies and techniques and materials, but always focuses on the centrality of teaching and learning. Core education courses include educational law and ethics, curriculum, supervision, and measurement and assessment. The combination of core and reading courses is based on the premise that there is a constant need for teachers who understand that there is a need for teachers who understand the variables which affect their environments and who possess the professional skills necessary to contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and procedures to effect increased learning, demonstration of desired outcomes, and provide leadership within school environments.

Program Competencies

1. Demonstrate knowledge of theories of reading development, individual differences, the nature of reading difficulties, and principles of assessment.
2. Create learning environments to successfully implement a variety of strategies, techniques, and materials to teach word identification, phonemic awareness, letter sound correspondence, vocabulary skills, strategies for comprehension and the construction of meaning, and study strategies.
3. Provide literacy services to K-12 students in developmental, compensatory, or special education programs.
4. Assess student performance and progress using formal and informal assessment instruments, and communicate results.
5. Communicate information about reading to various groups and communities.
6. Participate in research of literacy.
7. Explain and apply classroom, district, or state-wide data used in the assessment of student performance.
8. Design instruction based upon knowledge of the disciplines, students, the community, and Delaware's student content standards to demonstrate knowledge of instructional planning.
9. Demonstrate and maintain standards of professional conduct guided by legal and ethical principles.

Outcomes Assessment

The assessment of outcomes consists of multiple measures. Grades on assignments and for courses are the first level of assessment. The course goals, learning outcomes, and assignments are designed to address the measurement of program and graduation competencies. The Knowledge of Reading Test (KRT) must be taken after completion of six core courses and prior to MRD 7950, Seminar in Reaching Research. Other assessment measures include the observation of application of knowledge in practical settings and alumni surveys that query such items as preparation levels for careers and life-long learning activities.