Reading Fundamentals #3:

The Elements of Effective Reading Instruction & Assessment

Instructor Name:	Dr. Karen Lea
Phone:	509-891-7219
Office Hours:	8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST Monday - Friday
Email:	karen_lea@virtualeduc.com
Address:	Virtual Education Software
	23403 E Mission Avenue, Suite 220F
	Liberty Lake, WA 99019
Technical Support:	support@virtualeduc.com

Introduction

This course will focus on grades K–3 and 4–12 reading instruction and an introduction to reading assessment. As part of these two key areas of reading instruction, the five elements of effective reading instruction for grades K–3 will be highlighted, including definitions, implications for instruction, and future directions. These five elements include instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension. Additionally, the five elements of effective reading instruction for grades 4–12 will be highlighted, including definitions, implications for instruction, and future directions. These five elements include instruction in word study, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and motivation. The course will also provide information on important assessment terms and definitions and will explore how reading assessment fits within federally mandated programs. This analysis includes specific recommendations for understanding student reading needs using screening, diagnostic, and progress-monitoring assessments. Finally, the course describes how teachers can conduct and use pivotal curriculum-based measurement (CBM) procedures in their classrooms.

This computer-based instruction course is a self-supporting program that provides instruction, structured practice, and evaluation all on your home or school computer. Technical support information can be found in the Help section of your course.

Course Materials (Online)

Title:	Reading Fundamentals #3: The Elements of Effective Reading Instruction & Assessment
Author:	Greg Benner, Ph.D., Nancy Marchand-Martella, Ph.D., and Ronald Martella, Ph.D.
Publisher:	Virtual Education Software, inc. 2004, Revised 2010, Revised 2014, Revised 2017, Revised 2020, Revised 2024
Instructor:	Dr. Karen Lea

Academic Integrity Statement

The structure and format of most distance-learning courses presumes a high level of personal and academic integrity in completion and submission of coursework. Individuals enrolled in a distance-learning course are expected to adhere to the following standards of academic conduct.

Academic Work

Academic work submitted by the individual (such as papers, assignments, reports, tests) shall be the student’s own work or appropriately attributed in part or in whole to its correct source. Submission of commercially prepared (or group prepared) materials as if they are one’s own work is unacceptable.

Aiding Honesty in Others

The individual will encourage honesty in others by refraining from providing materials or information to another person with knowledge that these materials or information will be used improperly.

Violations of these academic standards will result in the assignment of a failing grade and subsequent loss of credit for the course.

Level of Application

This course is designed to be an informational course with application to reading programs for kindergarten through grade 12. The course is designed for both regular and exceptional education teachers and support staff who teach reading and reading remediation to public- and private-school students. This is the final course in a three-course series. Although it is not mandatory to complete all three courses, VESi recommends completing the entire series before developing and implementing a evidence-based reading program in your school or classroom.

Expected Learning Outcomes

As a result of this course, participants will demonstrate their ability to:

1. Describe the application of the Science of Reading.
2. Describe learning to read and reading to learn.
3. Discuss important aspects of phonemic awareness instruction.
4. Identify important aspects of phonics instruction.
5. Describe important aspects of fluency instruction.
6. Note important aspects of vocabulary instruction.
7. Discuss important aspects of text comprehension.
8. Describe the major activities related to content-area reading instruction.
9. Note how computer technology can be used in reading instruction.
10. Outline the goals and approaches of RTI and MTSS, in general and with regard to reading remediation.
11. Describe accomplishments that can be expected for students in grades K–3.
12. Discuss important aspects of adolescent literacy instruction and assessment (grades 4–12).
13. Discuss important aspects of word study and motivation.
14. Describe reading remediation guidelines and interventions for students in grades K–12.
15. Describe how to incorporate tutoring as an effective reading intervention.
16. Define important assessment terms.
17. Discuss technical quality, test interpretation, and assessment purposes.
18. Note how assessment fits within federally mandated programs.
19. Apply response to intervention (RTI) systems/multitier system of supports (MTSS) approaches to understand student reading needs, including screening, diagnosing where to focus instruction, and monitoring student reading progress.

Course Description

The Reading Fundamentals program focuses on implementing proven methods of reading instruction in classrooms. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 added two new reading programs to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act—Reading First and Early Reading First—both under the Bush Administration. Under the Obama Administration, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) became the main educational law for public schools. The Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy program provided funding focused on advancing literacy skills for children from birth through grade 12. An emphasis was placed on evidence-based classroom instruction and assessment and targeted interventions for those reading below grade level. Race to the Top was another initiative offering funding. Under the Trump Administration, the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy program was renamed the Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN).

This course will focus on grades K–3 and grades 4–12 and the Science of Reading. As part of these two key areas of reading instruction, prereading skills for preschoolers will be briefly described. Additionally, the five elements of effective reading instruction will be highlighted, including definitions, implications for instruction, and future directions. These five elements are instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension (grades K–3); and word study, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and motivation (grades 4–12).

We conclude with information on important assessment terms and definitions. Further, we provide information on how reading assessment fits within the Reading First Program. We include detailed information on the Analysis of Reading Assessment Instruments for K–3 (Institute for the Development of Educational Achievement, 2002) completed by key leaders in the assessment field. This analysis includes specific recommendations on 29 reading assessments. We describe how response to intervention (RTI) and multitier system of support (MTSS) are used to understand student reading needs, including screening, diagnosing where to focus instruction, and monitoring student reading progress over time. We demonstrate how teachers can link assessment with instruction and data-based decision making in classroom settings, with particular focus on pivotal curriculum-based measurement procedures.

Student Expectations

As a student you will be expected to:

· Complete all six information sections showing a competent understanding of the material presented in each section.

· Complete all six section examinations, showing a competent understanding of the material presented. You must obtain an overall score of 70% or higher, with no individual exam score below 50%, to pass this course. *Please note: Minimum exam score requirements may vary by college or university; therefore, you should refer to your course addendum to determine what your minimum exam score requirements are.

· Complete a review of any section on which your examination score was below 50%.

· Retake any examination, after completing an information review, to increase that examination score to a minimum of 50%, making sure to also be achieving an overall exam score of a minimum 70% (maximum of three attempts). *Please note: Minimum exam score requirements may vary by college or university; therefore, you should refer to your course addendum to determine what your minimum exam score requirements are.

· Complete a course evaluation form at the end of the course.

Course Overview

Chapter 1: Reading Instruction

The purpose of this course is to consider what we can do in school to promote effective reading instruction. In this chapter, we discuss Science of Reading and focus on two elements of effective reading instruction. These are phonemic awareness and phonics.

Chapter 2: Reading to Learn & Other Important Areas of Reading Instruction

In this chapter, we focus on additional elements of the Science of Reading: fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Additionally we look at applying the Science of Reading in content-area reading activities and instruction.

Chapter 3: Further Examination of Reading Programs & Skills

In this chapter, we provide further examination of reading programs and skills. We discuss how to evaluate core or comprehensive reading programs using the Consumer’s Guide developed by Simmons and Kame’enui (2003). We also discuss the Planning and Evaluation Tool (Kame’enui & Simmons, 2000) and the Rubric for Evaluating Reading/Language Arts Instructional Materials for Kindergarten to Grade 5 by Foorman, Smith, and Kosanovich (2017), which are used to assess reading programs. We conclude by discussing the important accomplishments by grade level as identified by Armbruster, Lehr, and Osborn (2003) in their booklet A Child Becomes a Reader: Proven Ideas From Research for Parents: Kindergarten Through Grade 3.

Chapter 4: Reading Remediation

In this chapter, we will describe interventions for students in grades K–12. We offer important guidelines for remedial reading programs. We focus on the importance of tutorial programs in schools. Tutorial programs are considered one of the best ways of providing reading instruction to struggling readers.

Chapter 5: Best Practices for Reading Assessment

This chapter describes relevant assessment terms and purposes. It is critical to understand the types of tests available to teachers and what information can be gathered from them. It also provides important information about how assessment fits within Reading First. Additionally, this chapter details the findings of the Reading First Assessment Committee. It also provides important information about how assessment currently fits within the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy program. Additionally, this chapter details the best practices from the Reading First Assessment Committee, the Florida Center for Reading Research, and the National Center for Intensive Intervention (NCII). Response to intervention (RTI) practices for understanding the literacy needs of students through screening, diagnostic, and progress-monitoring assessments are detailed.

Chapter 6: Linking Assessment With Instruction

This chapter lays out how to link reading assessment with instruction, meaning how to use assessment information to meet individual students’ literacy needs every day. It describes the ever-important link between assessment and instruction and how to problem-solve when student literacy needs are not being met. An outcomes-driven model is discussed. Additionally, the chapter explores data tracking and data-based decision-making, with particular focus on CBM and its derivatives (i.e., measures not based directly on a particular curriculum, but integrating CBM elements such as frequent progress monitoring). It discusses the DIBELS in addition to teacher-developed CBM practices that can serve as criterion-referenced tests when student data are compared with performance criteria. We highlight best practices for understanding the reading comprehension and motivation of striving readers (grades 4–12).

Examinations

At the end of each chapter, you will be expected to complete an examination designed to assess your knowledge. You may take these exams a total of three times. Your last score will save, not the highest score. After your third attempt, each examination will lock and not allow further access. Your final grade for the course will be determined by calculating an average score of all exams. This score will be printed on your final certificate. As this is a self-paced computerized instruction program, you may review course information as often as necessary. You will not be able to exit any examinations until you have answered all questions. If you try to exit the exam before you complete all questions, your information will be lost. You are expected to complete the entire exam in one sitting.

Instructor Description

Karen Lea holds a Ph.D. in education. Dr. Lea has 15 years’ experience teaching at the K–12 level and another 14 years’ experience teaching education courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Currently she is an assessment developer at Western Governors University. Dr. Lea has been professionally published over 15 times and has served on over a dozen panels and boards, including serving on the NCATE (CAEP) Board of Examiners.

Technical Questions

If you have questions or problems related to the operation of this course, please try everything twice. If the problem persists please check our support pages for FAQs and known issues at www.virtualeduc.com and also the Help section of your course.

If you need personal assistance then email support@virtualeduc.com or call 509-891-7219. When contacting technical support, please know your course version number (it is located at the bottom left side of the Welcome Screen) and your operating system, and be seated in front of the computer at the time of your call.

Minimum Computer Requirements

Please refer to VESi’s website: www.virtualeduc.com or contact VESi if you have further questions about the compatibility of your operating system.

Refer to the addendum regarding Grading Criteria, Course Completion Information, Items to be Submitted, and how to submit your completed information. The addendum will also note any additional course assignments that you may be required to complete that are not listed in this syllabus.

Bibliography (Suggested Readings)

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