Interventions for Middle Grade Struggling Readers
(Grades 4-6) / Flex Course
PDI Course Number: 111T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC40245
Course Description
Do you have struggling readers in your class? Are you challenged to find strategies that can truly help these readers become successful? This online course for teachers begins by introducing the building blocks of the reading process and the role that each of them plays in effective reading instruction. Evidence-based interventions are explored as they relate to deficits in phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills. Teachers will learn how to incorporate the use of think-alouds, interactive read-alouds, graphic organizers, and hi-lo books to improve their students' background knowledge, vocabulary knowledge, and understanding of text structure. Teachers will also learn how to weave a variety of strategies into their content curriculum so that students can more effectively comprehend informational texts. Teachers will explore the critical role that informal assessments play in the teaching of reading and how these assessments can be used to create targeted remediation plans for struggling readers. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will understand how to best help their struggling readers so that they can make dramatic improvements in reading skills and comprehension. This online professional development 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 receiving university credit for your PDI professional development course, visit our credit page.
Need help? Allison Wynne, PDI Program Coordinator, is ready to assist.
"As an 18 year teacher, I found the content very valuable to reflecting on my current literacy practices. I will be applying a lot of what I learned this school year, and the content helped me gain a better understanding of striving readers and how to support them." - Melissa Morabito
This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units or 5 quarter units of graduate-level credit from UCSD.
You have up to one year from the date you are enrolled to complete a flex course.
View the online course syllabus.
Print our customized course approval form to share with your school district.
TOPICAL OUTLINE
UCSD Course Number: EDUC40245
Unit One
- The Building Blocks of Effective Reading Instruction
- Decoding Words and Language Development
- The Art of Differentiation
- Assignment #1: Write an autobiography
- Test #1
Unit Two
- The Face of Reading Impairments
- The Influence of ADHD on Reading Achievement
- Motivating Struggling Readers
- Assignment #2: Article reflection
- Test #2
Unit Three
- Phonological and Phonics Deficits
- Vocabulary and Fluency Deficits
- Comprehension Deficits
- Assignment #3: Share your expertise
- Test #3
Unit Four
- Using Think-Alouds and Read-Alouds to Improve Comprehension
- Improving Comprehension of Narrative Text Through Graphic Organizers and Mind Maps
- Using Hi-Lo Books to Improve Comprehension
- Test #4
Unit Five
- The Structure of Informational Text
- Building Background Knowledge before Diving into Informational Text
- Working with Content Area Vocabulary
- Test #5
Unit Six
- The Importance of Informal Assessments
- Creating a Remediation Plan
- Evidence-Based Interventions
- Assignment #4: Assess struggling readers
- Assignment #5: Course Reflection
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