NATURE OF THE COURSE
The Language Arts course is part of the broader Curriculum and Instruction course. It is designed to give teacher candidates an understanding of literacy development in children of the primary, junior and intermediate grades. It is also intended to provide candidates with an overview of the knowledge required to design and implement an equitable Language Arts program for all students including those with exceptional learning needs.
The exploration of literacy development will be examined in the context of the Ontario Curriculum for Language Arts Grades 1-8 (1997). This Curriculum is divided into Reading, Writing and Oral and Visual Communication.
This course will be integrated with other courses of study such as Psychological Foundations of learning and Development, Teacher Education Seminar and Special Education seminar. Primary/Junior candidates will investigate writing in depth as part of their PJ course of held on Wednesday afternoons.
As a student in this course you will:
COURSE MATERIALS
Required Readings:
Booth, David (1998). Guiding the Reading Process: Techniques and Strategies for Successful Instruction in K-8 Classrooms. Toronto: Pembroke Publishers.
Tompkins, G. (1998). 50 Literacy Strategies: Step by Step. Toronto: Prentice Hall.
Selected course readings will be distributed in class or can be accessed electronically through the OISE/UT website.
Recommended Readings:
Atwell, Nancie (1998). In the Middle: New Understanding About Writing, Reading and Learning. Toronto: Irwin. (This book will be very helpful for Junior/Intermediate Teachers)
Booth, David (1996). Literacy Techniques for Building Successful Readers and Writers. Markham: Pembroke.
Graves, Donald (1994). A Fresh Look at Writing. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Relevant Educational Journals
Relevant Web Sites
ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION
Assignment
Number One - All About Me Book/Diversity Doll - 15
Marks
This assignment will allow you to
communicate who you are. It will also give you an understanding of
the process of writing and illustrating for a particular audience
(i.e. primary, junior, intermediate students), process writing and
book publishing. A detailed outline of the method and criteria for
your All About Me book will be given to you in class. In addition you
will make a Diversity Doll that represents your cultural heritage.
These dolls will be displayed at Hearne to reflect the diversity
among people in all schools.
Diversity Dolls are due on September 19 or 26, 2000. All About Me Books are due on October 16, 2000.
Assignment Number Two -
In-class Inquiry into Literacy - Pass/Fail
This assignment will allow you to
explore what literacy means to you and how you will promote the
development of literacy in your classrooms. It will also help you to
articulate the meaning of literacy.
Assignment Number Three -
Reflective Journal - 10 Marks
For this assignment you will refer
to the Cross-Course
information sheet.
Assignment Number Four-
Portfolio - 30 Marks
For this assignment you will refer
to the Cross-Course
information sheet.
Assignment Number Five-
Book and Author Study - 30 Marks
You will work as a learning circle
for this assignment. With your group you will compile an annotated
list of Children's books and authors based on the division of your
choice (e.g. primary, junior, intermediate). This list will be shared
and discussed with other learning circles. Included in your Author
Study you must demonstrate an awareness of appropriate content for
your chosen division as well as sensitivity for equity issues and
Canadian content.
This assignment will be due on February 6, 2000.
Evaluation will be based on:
Assignment Number Six-
Professionalism - 15 Marks
For this assignment you will refer
to the Cross-Course
information sheet.