Reading Interventions for Middle School Students

(Grades 6-8) / Flex Course

PDI Course Number: 25T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC41433

Course Description

Do you have readers in your class that are reading far below grade level? This course is designed for teachers who work with readers in grades 6-8 who are one to four years behind the appropriate reading level. The course materials are based on current best-practices research on helping students with reading difficulties. Topics addressed in the course include assessment and diagnosis of reading difficulties, differentiation strategies, fluency skills, vocabulary development, and cognitive reading strategies. Key comprehension strategies such as how to summarize and infer are presented along with fix-it strategies students can use when they begin to struggle. Specific vocabulary topics presented include the three tiers of words, self-collection, using context clues, and the importance of direct instruction. Teachers will also learn how to develop individual reading profiles and reading plans based on assessment data. Finally, teachers will learn how to best select appropriate reading materials for those who struggle. By the end of this course, teachers will know how to help students become better readers with improved comprehension skills. This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. For detailed information on university credit, click here.

"Of all the reading courses I've taken, this one completely surpassed my expectations. I learned teaching strategies that I could use right away. I can definitely say that I have learned very valuable information to assist me in helping struggling readers in the middle grades." - Jan Slusher