Language & Literacy

English Language & Literacy

Coursework

  • EDUC 519U Working with English Learners* – Offered Spring
  • EDUC 619U Strategies for Teaching Writing – Offered Summer
  • EDUC 620U Advanced Children’s Literature – Offered Summer

* EDUC 519U serves as test prep for taking the ESOL Praxis Exam, required to earn Virginia ESL endorsement.

As educators, we know that children’s language and literacy skills start developing as soon as they are born and become more complex as they grow and develop. Our Professional Learning Series in Language & Literacy provides classroom teachers with expanded knowledge and skills to positively impact language, reading and writing development for their students.

Our courses focus on developing key classroom strategies and instructional design principles that focus on building language and literacy skills across the curriculum. Additionally, we explore language and literacy in the context of the English language learner (ELL), helping teachers develop instruction that may be age appropriate and focused on culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Our series in Language & Literacy includes three graduate-level courses. One course in the series is offered each fall, spring and summer semester to allow most educators to complete the coursework within a year. The courses may be taken in any sequence.

Add-On ESL Endorsement

EDUC 519U Working with English Learners may serve as test preparation course for the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Praxis® exam (exam fee not included in course tuition). Earning a passing score on the ESOL Praxis exam enables Virginia licensed K-12 educators to add the “English as a Second Langauge preK-12” endorsement to their teaching licensure. See Superintendent’s Memo #163-16 for additional information about the ESOL Praxis exam.

Available Classes

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  • EDUC 619U Strategies for Teaching Writing
    Course Offerings

    Summer Term: 5-week II (V2)

    Tammy Milby

    CRN: 30077 (section: pd01)
    Semester hours: 3
    Fee: $800

    Online. One remote orientation via Zoom on June 20, 4-5:30 p.m. Educators seeking professional development only.

    Description

    Reflect on the best practices and research related to teaching writing effectively. The course includes an in-depth look at writing workshops and considers teaching strategies focusing on the steps of the writing process and different forms of writing (narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, and informational). Class sessions focus on discovering inspiring teaching strategies for classroom practice. Participants will also explore the connection between reading and writing instruction and learn how to include writing across the content areas.

  • EDUC 620U Advanced Children's Literature
    Course Offerings

    Summer Term: 5-week I (V1)
    Thursday, June 13, 2024: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
    Tuesday, June 18, 2024: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
    Thursday, June 20, 2024: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

    Tammy Milby

    CRN: 30076 (section: pd01)
    Semester hours: 3
    Fee: $800

    In-person/online hybrid with in-person meetings as scheduled. Additional remote sessions TBA. Educators seeking professional development only.

    Description

    The course provides a survey of children's literature with emphasis on recent trends and evaluative criteria used in selecting books based on school and recreational needs and interests of young readers. Course participants will explore multiple genres, including historical fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, traditional literature, nonfiction, and multicultural, and ways of integrating these books into curricula.