Theoretical Foundations of Literacy And Language Development

This course explores the theoretical and practical foundations of literacy development, assessment, and instruction. Students will examine the complex interplay of linguistic, cognitive, and neurobiological processes that underpin reading and writing proficiency. The curriculum covers language processing requirements, relationships between phonemic awareness, decoding, word recognition, spelling, and vocabulary, as well as typical and atypical reading development, including characteristics of dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Students will study key findings from the National Reading Panel and National Early Literacy Panel, and investigate environmental, cultural, and social factors influencing literacy development. The course emphasizes understanding the needs of diverse learners, including English learners and emergent bilinguals. Students will analyze evolving research in literacy from multiple fields and gain proficiency in foundational models such as the Simple View of Reading, Scarborough's Rope, and the Four-Part Processing Model. By exploring the pillars of reading, students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to support learners across the language and literacy continuum, fostering literacy-rich and culturally representative learning environments.