Faculty advisors from the Reading and Language Arts Department work with graduate students to design study plans that take into account their needs, interests, educational level, and experience for purposes of certification as a remedial reading and language arts teacher or a reading and language arts consultant, for enhancement as a regular classroom teacher to comport with professional requirements of the state and various school systems, and for other broad-based preparation in the field. Department members write articles for professional education and reading journals, review the periodical articles of other authors, and engage in consulting activities for various schools and organizations. Reading and Language Arts faculty also conduct in-service workshops for educators in schools, present papers to teacher groups and professional reading associations, and actively contribute to other reading related organizations within the local area and northeast region of the U.S. Members actively participate independently in the International Reading Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Reading Conference, the Connecticut Reading Association, the Connecticut Association for Reading Research, and Phi Delta Kappa. Full-time and adjunct members of the department also serve the University and its students as committed teachers, adhering to the instructional philosophy that students should have every possible opportunity to work closely with faculty in courses offered. The reading clinic benefits graduate students in the Reading and Language Arts program and is a free service which helps pupils with reading difficulties.
Pupils receive individualized instruction provided by Reading majors.
Participating pupils are recommended to the Reading and Language Arts Department for assistance by local schools, organizations, parents, and others. The reading clinic offers an environment and materials designed to support pupils who have reading disabilities. Other learning materials for reading and language arts development are available through the University library which includes an extensive curriculum laboratory. One or more courses from a particular cluster may be provided for educational systems and within communities, as well as special courses designed to meet a school district's specific needs. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Reading and Language Arts Department Chair for further exploration of this option.