Welcome to English 726/892S! In this course, we'll think about how to integrate teaching literature and literacy with other skills like writing, composing multimedia, speaking, listening, and viewing. We will focus on reading and interpreting a wide variety of literatures (including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic narrative, and drama), although it is difficult and even undesireable to attempt to separate literacy skills and practices from each other.
We’ll learn about how English teachers meet the needs and interests of a richly varied population of students. We will review standards systems for English teaching, construct and critique teaching documents, and discuss and apply the work of master literacy teachers and theorists.
Working collaboratively, we will examine and compare philosophies of English teaching and learning, and we will develop approaches to writing and literacy instruction. We will discuss theoretical, pedagogical, and practical ideas for teaching writing in large and small groups, engage in reading and composition exercises, produce and practice instructional activities and assessments, and evaluate teaching approaches. Successfully completing this course (which fits together with English 725) will help you recognize and affirm literacy skills and practices, and to consider how they can help your future students read, comprehend, describe, analyze, and evaluate various texts.
You are encouraged to enroll in the practicum lab, Engl 726L (this course's 2-credit co-requisite), if you would like to build up your experience in classroom teaching or research.
This course is open to all students with Junior or Senior status. It is required for all English Teaching majors.
Contact the listed instructor for permission to register.