Responsive Literacy Education

Return to: School of Education & Human Development

Office: Lawrence Street Center, 701
Telephone: 303-315-6300
Fax: 303-315-6311
E-mail: education@ucdenver.edu

The Responsive Literacy Education program provides educators with advanced knowledge and training to work with diverse student populations as they develop reading, writing and oral language skills. Course work includes language and literacy acquisition, culturally relevant teaching practices, literature, literacy assessment and informed instruction, hands-on practica, and other areas.

Faculty

Information about faculty in this program is available online at http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/SchoolOfEducation/FacultyandResearch/Pages/Our-Faculty.aspx

Program Options

The MA degree options in Literacy Education will enhance your literacy instruction skills and credentials while providing advanced knowledge and training to work with diverse student populations as they develop reading, writing, and oral language skills. Course work includes literacy and language acquisition, culturally relevant teaching practices, literature, literacy assessment and informed instruction, hands-on practice, and practicum in your own classroom. The program requires access to students in order to complete the methods courses. We stress the importance of recognizing a variety of literacies - home, school, community, and mainstream - in both first and second languages, and the meaningful use of literacy and language to improve students’ quality of life.

By placing emphasis on the reading, writing, oral and visual language development of culturally, linguistically and academically diverse student populations, this master’s program is at the forefront of the field. Language is approached from a socio-psycholinguistic perspective that emphasizes the learner’s construction of meaning rather than the learning of isolated skills. Importance is placed on using theory, inquiry and personal reflection to inform classroom practice. The program prepares teachers to become decision makers capable of developing learner-centered curricula where each student’s reading and writing abilities are assessed to address developmental or special needs.