Cathy Moyer Adjunct Faculty -- Education Harford Community College

Teaching Reading in the Content Area: I
EDUC 206 Spring 2003

Course Description

This course provides the participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable their students to read content-area textbooks.  Participants learn and use a variety of strategies to develop intrinsic motivation in students as well as use instructional strategies appropriate to discipline textbooks.  Participants also learn about and use a variety of methods for assessing content-area literacy to plan instruction and communicate with students, parents, and allied professionals.  This course is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education for individuals seeking re-certification and is intended for secondary content area, special education and N-12 teachers.

Textbook

Content Area Reading., Vacca, J.L., and Vacca, R.T., Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2002, 0-321-08810-7

Objectives
To introduce teachers to the assessment of student reading and to cognitive strategies in reading, to incorporate reading skills through student-centered instruction, and to develop intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for reading in students.

Technical Specifications

Teaching Reading in the Content area is designed for students with computer, Internet, and email skills who are able to work independently. Students must be able to navigate in a browser, attach files to an email, and use a word processor. Students enrolled in this course need a PC or a Mac computer with Windows 95 or higher, access to the internet, and an email account, Netscape 3.0 or higher or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher with Java and Javascript enabled, and Microsoft Word word processor. There are computers available on the HCC campus in the library that you may use for your coursework, but it is strongly recommended to have your own personal computer equipment when taking an online course. Ifrastructure problems are beyond the control of the instructor and may impact response time. For technical questions, call the help desk at 410-836-4256 or send an email to online@harford.edu.

Grading

Grading will be based on completion of the weekly assignments and projects. Paragraph assignments will be worth ten points, lists or charts ten points, chat room participation ten points, longer assignments twenty to one-hundred points. Final grades will be determined by the total points attained out of the total points possible. Points possible will be listed with each assignment. Due dates for assignments will be posted with the assignment. Assignments will be accepted up to four days late with a 10% grade reduction penalty for each day overdue.