SbN FRASER UNIVERSITY

Tntercccinn 1998

EDUC472-4

D. Blume

Designs for Learning: Language Arts

Office: MPX 8637

(Elementary)

Tel: 291-5975

D02.00

E-mail: dblume@sfu.ca

PREREQUISITE

Educ 401/402

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will focus on developing knowledge, skills and strategies to create a rich and stimulating Language Arts

program in the classroom. Issues in reading, writing, speaking and listening will be examined through current theory and

teaching practice. This course will provide you with a framework to examine and reflect on your understandings about

learning and teaching language arts, and your role in engaging children in communicating and searching for meaning.

This course will require personal involvement and class participation. You will have opportunities to examine your

personal beliefs about children, the teacher and the curriculum; and to explore the response, seminars, demonstrations,

group work and other action-based learning experiences. Upon completion of this course you should have an extensive

repertoire of strategies and materials to use in the language class.

TOPICS

• Language and the learning process

• The process of reading and writing

• The development of oral language and listening skills

• The linking of reading and writing

• Reading and writing across the curriculum

• Children's literature in the Language Arts program

• Developing an effective Language Arts program

• Assessment and Evaluation

REQUIREMENTS

1.

Regular attendance and participation

2. Completion of assigned professional readings

3.

Completion of reading and writing assignments

REQUIRED TEXTS

Calkins, L., The Art of Teaching Writing. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1994. ISBN 0-435-08809-2.

(Choose between Calkins OR Atwell, Calkins is for focusing on the teaching of reading and writing in the primary and

ear/ti intermediate grades)

Atwell, N., In the Middle. Concord, ON: Irwin Publishing, 1998. ISBN 7725-2682-6.

(Atwell is for focusing on the teaching of reading and writing in the upper intermediate grades)

Carter, F., The Education of Little Tree. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1976. ISBN 0-8263-0879-1.

Evaluating Reading Across the Curriculum: Reading Reference Set. Province of B.C.: Ministry of Education.

Evaluating Writing Across the Curriculum: Writing Reference Set. Province of B.C.: Ministry of Education.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

A list of recommended readings will be available on the first day of class and readings will be assigned through the

session.