Completion of this endorsement and an approved teacher education program enables graduates to perform the duties of a reading teacher at K-12 levels, and to act as reading resource teachers and consultants on reading improvement in their own buildings. This endorsement is also a valuable addition to all teaching majors at both the elementary and secondary levels, helping prospective teachers learn to deal more effectively with struggling readers in their own classrooms, as well as to encourage reading development and enrichment among all students. 

Students should see an advisor for assistance with course selections for a Literacy Endorsement. The Praxis II exam required for a Literacy endorsement is Teaching Reading (#5206).

Program Outcomes

1. The program completer understands how learners grow and develop, recognize recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and be able to design designs and implement implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
2. The program completer uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
3.  The program completer works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation. self motivation.
4. The program completer understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) they teach he or she teaches and will know how to create creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to to assure mastery of the content.
5. The program completer understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
6. The program completer understands and use uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making of both teacher and learner. making.
7. The program completer plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
8. The program completer understands and use uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, as well as and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
9. The program completer engages in ongoing professional learning and use uses evidence to to continually evaluate your his/her practice, particularly the effects of your his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community) community), and adapt adapts practice to to meet the needs of each learner.
10. The program completer seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to seek appropriate leadership roles and opportunities take responsibility for student learning, to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to to ensure learner growth, and to to advance the profession.
11. The program completer should be able to distinguish between each of the federally recognized tribes with respect to the retention of their ancestral lands in Idaho: Coeur d’Alene d'Alene Tribe, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Nez New Perce Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes. They will Program completes build capacity in learners to utilize the assets that each learner brings to the learning community based on their backgrounds and experiences. experiences. 
12.  The program completer understands the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators and its place in supporting the integrity of the profession. profession. 
13. The program completer knows how to use digital technology to create lessons and facilitate instruction and assessment in face-to-face, blended, and online learning environments to engage students and enhance learning.​
14. Understand the importance of automatic word recognition, reading fluency, reading comprehension, and motivation to read; the impact of vocabulary knowledge in oral and written language comprehension; and factors that contribute to deep listening and reading comprehension.
15. Understand the benefit of incorporating writing in the content areas. They will know how to incorporate ethical and credible research practices into instruction.
16. Understand how reading and writing difficulties vary in presentation and degree. You will understand the characteristics of struggling readers and writers, know how to identify appropriate accommodations, and adapt instruction to meet student needs.
17. Gain knowledge of the foundational concepts of literacy instruction and their typical developmental progression. You will understand that learners with reading difficulties require code-based explicit, systematic, sequential, and diagnostic instruction with many repetitions.
18. Understand formative literacy assessment concepts, strategies, and measures.  You will know how to use assessment data to inform and design differentiated literacy instruction.

Program Requirements

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Courses are required as a part of the Elementary Teacher Education Program.