Two New Courses for Reading Certificate Program

The University of California, Irvine Extension announces two new courses as part of its Reading Certificate Program. The courses, "Sociocultural Context of Reading Instruction" and "Foundational Theories in Reading Instruction," will each take place online beginning June 23 through Sept. 5.

"Literacy needs to be the core foundation of every student's education," said Angela Jeantet, director of education programs for UC Irvine Extension. "These two courses will enable teachers to lay the groundwork for children to become great leaders."

The first course, "Sociocultural Context of Reading Instruction," will be taught by Lesley Clear, Ph.D., an educational consultant to UC Irvine Extension. Clear has been an ESL instructor in Japan and Hungary, and an EFL teacher trainer in Hungary, Ukraine, Chile and Argentina. The course is designed to help practitioners develop a rich understanding of the myriad issues that diverse learners face in complex environments, including home, community and school. It is intended to provide teachers knowledge in the social, cultural, linguistic and academic challenges and opportunities faced by English language learners – and to impart practical strategies for educators to teach students with sensitivity to these issues.

The second course, "Foundational Theories in Reading Instruction," will be taught by Shannon Chollman, MA, NBCT, a reading specialist and teacher with over 10 years of experience. Chollman earned her master's degree in literacy at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and was one of the first reading specialists/teachers in the United States to earn her National Board Certification in the area of Literacy. She is currently a course developer and instructor at UC Irvine Extension and teaches in the Tustin Unified School District. The course will review and analyze the research in reading and language arts, as well as its implications for student assessment and instruction. Chollman will explore how children learn to read and the phonological and morphological structure of English. The course will look at the sociolinguistic aspects of reading and writing, while evaluating the relationship between language, spelling, reading and writing.

Both courses are part of UC Irvine Extension's Reading Certificate Program, which is designed for practicing teachers seeking the CCTC Reading Certificate and those who want to meet professional development objectives or requirements. The courses in the certificate program are offered online and onsite at school sites. For more information, visit http://unex.uci.edu/certificates/education/