Comprehensive Literacy is designed to help kindergarten through third grade teachers succeed in preparing their students to become successful readers and writers.  This course is the most effective way for K-3 teachers to focus on and practice the essential components of reading identified by the National Reading Panel. Participants learn about assessment and instruction through a research-based professional development program.  They use assessments to inform and drive their classroom instruction, leading to greater student success.

• Taught by a trained facilitator who is an expert in literacy education
• Graduate credit is available through various universities (up to 3 credits)
• Participants may also earn continuing professional development credit
• Location of courses meetings typically is in school buildings or libraries
• Classes usually meet once or twice a month

• Observation Survey Assessments (based on Marie Clay's work)
  • Running Record
  • Ohio Word Test
  • Concepts About Print
  • Writing Known Words
  • Hearing and Recording Sounds
  • Letter Identification
• Classroom Management
• What's Right about Writing
• Understanding How and Why to Match Children to Books
• Shared Reading/Bridging the Gap
• Guided Reading
  • The Emergent Reader/Writer
  • The Early Reader/Writer
  • The Transitional or Fluent Reader/Writer
• Comprehension/Reading To
• Independent Reading
• Word Study

• Instructional Approaches Binder
• Literacy Assessments or MLPP Binder (if class is in Michigan)
• 8 Interactive CD-roms with hundreds of video clips and explanations
• Access to a class online course designed by e-Literacy
• Technical Survival Guide-Participant Version
• Customer support and assistance from e-Literacy

• $395 materials and course fee
• Facilitator fee if not provided by sponsoring school
• Tuition fees for graduate credit through coordinating university (Optional)

Shows teachers systematic phonics methods for students to connect letters and sounds, using problem solving, decoding and chunking strategies. Teachers assess phonics problem solving abilities with letter ID, decodable and known word tests.
 

Includes fluency instruction and modeling on automaticity and phrasing during shared and guided reading. Shows teachers how to asses fluency using a multi-dimensional fluency rubric during running records.
 

Focuses on vocabulary development instruction during guided reading and writing instruction. Teachers give vocabulary assessments during high frequency word tests and writing evaluations.

Extends comprehension instruction and modeling to shared and guided reading. Guides teachers to assess students’ comprehension abilities through retelling, both on narrative and informational texts.