Reading Endorsement Online

Reading – ND8922

Department of Teacher Education
Patton Hall
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
740.593.4400

Dr. Jane Skon
skon@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Online

Terms of Entry: Summer, Fall

Program Overview

The Reading Endorsement enhances your knowledge and instructional skill in reading and writing beyond the foundation required of beginning teachers. Courses are offered at the graduate level. This program is designed for licensed teachers who wish to add the Reading Endorsement to their current teaching license. This program cannot be used as part of the seniors to graduate students program. Benefits include the ability to learn anytime, anywhere - complete the entire program online; broaden your employability, and attend a program approved by the Ohio Board of Regents which meets the requirements of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee. A masters in Reading Education is also available. All courses are transferable, within five years, to the Online Master’s of Reading Education program at Ohio University.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Explain, compare, contrast, and critique the theories of reading that have significant impact on teachers’ and researchers’ beliefs and articulate their personal theory of reading, explaining how it affects their classroom instruction and research interests;
• Identify and explain theories of language and literacy acquisition and use this knowledge to create a rich language instructional context for students and work collaboratively with other educators to engage in inquiry and share understandings;
• Use various assessments to determine struggling readers’ strengths and areas of continued need;
• Write reports which include analyses and interpretations of multiple reading assessments, identification of student strengths and areas of need, and plans for further literacy instruction;
• Implement research-based strategies and activities, using a variety of appropriate reading materials, for diverse K-12 learners;
• Support classroom teachers and paraprofessionals in the development of instruction based on assessment evidence, theory, and research; and
• Interpret research and apply theory/research to practice.

Opportunities for Graduates

Opportunities for graduates may include teaching, coaching, and leading school reading programs. Reading Specialists/Literacy Coaches may also serve as a resource in reading and writing for educational support personnel, administrators, teachers, and the community, provide professional development based on historical and current literature and research, work collaboratively with other professionals to build and implement reading programs for individuals and groups of students, and serve as advocates for students who struggle with reading. Many of these professionals have a specific focus that further defines their duties, such as serving as a teacher for students experiencing reading difficulties, as a reading or literacy coach, as a coordinator of reading and writing programs at the school or district, or in several combinations of these roles.

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/education/teacher-ed/reading

Admission Requirements

The state of Ohio requires that all applicants to reading endorsement programs must have 9 or 12 credit hours of reading coursework completed prior to beginning the program. All early childhood/elementary education, middle childhood education, and special education teachers must have previously completed 12 credit hours (which generally translates to 4 courses). Adolescent young adult (AYA) teachers must have previously completed 9 credit hours (which generally translates to 3 courses). These prerequisite credits may be earned entirely at the undergraduate level, entirely at the graduate level, or at a combination of the undergraduate and graduate level. Completing these courses is a required prerequisite to admission to this endoresment program and, upon application to the endorsement program, a review of transcripts will be conducted to determine if this prerequisite has been met.

International Students

This program does not permit full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to this program.

Applying for Endorsement

Upon completion of all reading endorsement coursework, candidates have five (5) years to apply to have the endorsement added to their Ohio License. After five (5) years, all coursework expires and must be retaken. All applicants who want to add the reading endorsement to their existing Ohio license must also take OAEs 038 and 039.

Completion Requirements

If the applicant has successfully completed a phonics course prior to enrolling in the endorsement program, they will not need to take another one, and will need to complete only the four remaining courses in the program. The program is 15 credit hours and includes the 5 following courses: