Examines children's responses to narrative writing, how they write fiction and the relationship between fiction writing and reading comprehension. Also examines how writers write fiction, how reading fiction improves writing, and methods of assessing responses to narrative writing. Examines language, cognitive development and non-fiction reading and writing. Students work on their own writing and explore teaching methods and research related to expository writing. Students read non-fiction as models for writing and consider ways to teach nonfiction writing.
Topics differ depending on student interests.
Students pursue a topic independently but with instructor guidance. A written proposal is prepared and must be approved by faculty sponsor. Analyzes the validity, reliability, methodology, results and conclusions, and implications of research and seminal literature in selected areas of reading and language arts. Topics vary depending on student and instructor interests. A laboratory course focusing on diagnosis of children's reading and language arts disabilities.