Campus Connection

UWL rekindles reading teacher certification, plans statewide reading symposium

UW-La Crosse has rekindled a reading teacher certification program as school districts and teachers across the nation are looking for ways to improve students' literacy skills. [caption id="attachment_46234" align="alignright" width="240"] James Carlson, assistant professor of educational studies.[/caption] “As teachers seek ways to meet the needs of their learners and demands are being placed on them through reforms such as Common Core State Standards, teachers are looking for supportive environments for improving their practice and carrying out research that impacts the students they serve,” says James Carlson, UWL assistant professor of educational studies. The first cohort in the new, online Graduate Reading Program started in fall 2015. The university is accepting applications through Monday, Aug. 15, for the fall 2016 cohort. The program focuses on developing certified reading professionals, reading specialists and instructional coaches. Offering the program brought UWL back into the rotation for hosting the Wisconsin State Reading Association's Reading Research Symposium, an annual event for graduate students and teachers to brush up on current trends in literacy. Each year the symposium is held at a different UW school or Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. “The state of Wisconsin has some fabulous literacy rock stars who are on the cutting edge of best practices in literacy instruction, and these scholars attend and present at the symposium,” says Carlson. “In addition to local talent, the symposium provides our graduate students with opportunities to hear from literacy scholars from around the country.” UWL's literacy faculty members have worked with Melissa Webster in UWL Continuing Education and Extension over the past two years to prepare for this summer's symposium, June 23-24, at UW-Madison. The theme for the symposium is "Critical Literacy in Critical Times: Negotiating the Changing Context(s) of Literacy and Education." Featured speakers include renowned literacy scholars James P. Gee, Gay Ivey, David Kirkland, Michael Smith and Vivian Vasquez. Learn more about the Wisconsin Reading Research Symposium at  http://www.uwlax.edu/conted/WRRS If you go— What: Reading Research Symposium. Critical Literacy in Critical Times: Negotiating the Changing Context(s) of Literacy and Education When: June 23-24 Where: Lowell Center, Madison Learn more and register: http://www.uwlax.edu/conted/WRRS

Interested in the new online Graduate Reading Program?

The fall 16 cohort is rapidly filling. Applications will be accepted through Monday, Aug. 15. The program is fully online and designed for in-service teachers. The program includes four tracks: - Reading MSED (non-certification) [30 credits] - Reading MSED Reading Teacher (1316) [30 credits] - Reading MSED Reading Teacher (1316) & Reading Specialist (5017) Certification [37 credits] - Reading Teacher (1316) add-on certification [18 credits] Three of the four tracks lead to Wisconsin certification as a reading teacher and/or reading specialist. The fourth track is a non-certification Masters of Science in Education in Reading, designed for professionals outside of the state and/or international audiences. Learn more about the program at https://www.uwlax.edu/reading-msed/