College of Education and
Human Sciences

Download our brochure here.

About the course:

1: Overview:    There is a great need in Montana for improved intervention services

related to oral and written language and literacy among adolescents. This program is designed to enhance the knowledge, assessment and intervention skills for those working with adolescents experiencing difficulties with language and literacy that may also negatively affect their academic achievement.

A series of eight web-based lectures are being developed by faculty at The University of Montana to provide information and recent research about literacy skills and the connections between oral and written language. Presentations will emphasize child development with a specific focus on the needs of adolescents experiencing language and literacy challenges. The use of appropriate tools to identify student needs as well as explicit and practical teaching methods for the older struggling reader will be addressed.

2. Expected Student Learning Outcomes: Participants will:

• Obtain information and recent research about literacy skills and the connection between oral and written language.
• Incorporate literacy skills teaching into curriculum.
• Identify and use appropriate tool to design interventions that will improve adolescent literacy skills.
• Implement explicit and practical teaching methods and intervention strategies for the struggling adolescent reader.
• Deepen Understanding of adolescent development and how it impacts learning.

3: Schedule of course topics and activities:

April 23:  Program Introduction and overview of Developmental Issues and, Language and Literacy Foundations.

May 7:  Components of Healthy Development and Reading Fundamentals.

May 21:   Assessments, The Needs of Students, Response to Intervention.

June 11:  Understanding Adolescents, Behavioral Issues, Attention, Emotional Regulation, and Motivation.

July 9:  Identifying Strengths and Recognizing Needs.

July 23:  Applications and Interventions.

September 17:  Applications and Interventions.

October 1:  Summary.

November:  Presentation of Cohort Case Studies.

Each school site, will involve two or more participants: SLP, paraeducator, classroom, subject area and special education teachers. This cohort will view each lecture followed by a one hour discussion at their site and submit a discussion summary. Each cohort will present a case study via web-cam for review by a university panel. Consultation will be available.

4. Traditional letter grade: 3 college credits or 45 CEU's Evaluation of Student Coursework:

• Pre and Post Test of knowledge of topic
• Cohort discussion of topic questions and submission of discussion summary
• Cohort case study and presentation to faculty
• Completion of assigned readings

Materials:       LETRS:  An Introduction to Language and Literacy by Deborah Glaser & Louisa C. Moats. Selected readings in adolescent Development & Psychology

**We are willing to work with any participant where circumstances do not allow the forming of a cohort.  Please contact us in this case.**