The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program at Fort Lewis College has earned an A+ from the (NCTQ) for how well the program prepare future teachers to teach reading to elementary students.
The report, , published on June 9, spotlights Fort Lewis College for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary.
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“Proficiency in reading at an early age shapes a child's learning experience throughout their formative years and beyond, which makes equipping teachers with comprehensive knowledge of language and reading development critical for the future of our learners,” said Chiara Cannella, interim dean of the School of Education. “Our program is committed to ensuring every student receives rich literacy instruction that empowers them as readers and learners.”
According to , one in three fourth graders in Colorado cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that, which is why the 麻豆免费高清无砖码区program is grounded in the nstructional practices that have been proven to help most students become successful readers.
Fort Lewis College is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.
“Every child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,” said NCTQ President Heather Peske. “Fort Lewis College is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”
NCTQ’s methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates, and measurement experts. To earn an “A,” programs needed to demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction. To earn an A+, programs needed to exceed those targets.
See NCTQ’s report, for more information about Fort Lewis College’s coverage of the science of reading and to see how Fort Lewis College compares to other programs in Colorado or across the country.
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