Elementary Education - Teaching Reading Grand Canyon University

Overview

This Elementary Education - Teaching Reading program from Grand Canyon University provides an advantage to elementary education students through additional reading courses to support reading diagnosis, remediation and intervention processes.

The format and courses of this regionally accredited program, approved by the Arizona State Board of Education, include studies and practices in lesson planning and assessments, classroom management and engagement, social justice, family and cultural diversity, English as a Second Language, reading instruction and assessment, and instructional methods and strategies for a variety of content areas crossing the span of kindergarten through grade eight.

Courses are taught by experts in their respective fields who lend knowledge and experience in areas of elementary education and educational psychology. All courses are directly aligned with standards from the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC), the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

A reading specialist is an expert in teaching reading who helps children improve their reading abilities individually or as part of a group. Reading specialists have in-depth knowledge about teaching reading, intervention, skill development strategies, fluency, reading comprehension and the training to work with struggling readers in elementary school. Instructors may follow a specialized curriculum that provides supplemental instruction for students who need additional practice.

However, in this program, graduates will not be ready to become a reading specialist as this program leads to initial licensure in the area of elementary education. Graduates may move on to pursue a Graduate Certificate of Completion in Reading for Elementary Educators and/or Master of Arts in Reading with an Emphasis in Elementary Education, Advanced Program for Continuing Professional Education from GCU to enhance their qualifications for specialized teaching opportunities in reading.

Careers

• This program prepares elementary teachers who have additional credits in the area of reading. At GCU, students also have opportunities to apply concepts, theories and research throughout the program for excellent career readiness. Students focus on supporting reading during elementary education field experiences that guide teacher candidates through 120 hours of observational and practice-based experiences. Teacher candidates will be exposed to elementary learning environment practicums completed in a 15-week student teaching experience. Graduates of this program are eligible for an elementary education teaching credential in the state of Arizona (120 credits).

• Graduates may pursue positions as an elementary education teacher with a focus on teaching reading in the K–8 classroom environment. With an emphasis in teaching reading, this degree provides the teachers with additional skills and refined knowledge in the reading remediation process.