Penn State Specialist Certificate:
Teaching Writing & Literacy

Join a community of educators from all content areas for Penn State Lehigh Valley's Specialist Certificate: Teaching Writing & Literacy, a 15-credit postbaccalaureate program offered through the Lehigh Valley Writing Project. Similar in design to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's range of educational endorsements, this certificate is designed to afford educators deep study in all aspects of literacy instruction. The program contains twelve core credits plus a 3-credit elective concentration for a 15-credit certificate with classes being held at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus in Center Valley.

REQUIRED CORE COURSES
EDUC 452 Teaching Writing (3 credits)
Tuesdays • August 28, 2012 to October 30, 2012 • 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The first course in the series offers techniques for teaching the writing process, kindergarten through grade 12, including writing in content area.  This course is a pre-requisite for EDUC 425 and 477.

EDUC 463 The Internet and K-12 Education (3 credits)
Thursdays 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. / Saturdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m. • November 1, 3, 15, 29 and December 1, 2012
The focus of this course is educational theory and practice to applications of the Internet, applying content from educational foundations, curriculum, and research.
 
EDUC 425 Literacy Assessment (3 credits)
Tuesdays • January 8, 2013 to March 12, 2013 • 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
This course emphasizes alternative literacy measures for assessing writing, specifically focusing on portfolio and performance assessments.

EDUC 477 Teaching Struggling Readers and Writers (3 credits)
Thursdays 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. / Saturdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m. • March 21, 23 and April 4, 6, 18, 20, 2013
This course offers a comprehensive overview of learning problems and effective strategies for teaching K-12 students who have difficulties reading and writing.

SELECT ONE ELECTIVE CONCENTRATION
EDUC 432 Children's Literature in Teaching Writing (3 credits)
Monday - Friday • June 25 - June 29, 2012 • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Participants will learn methods for transferring writing skills and literary devices from literature to student writing in all subject areas.
In 2013 this course will be offered Monday - Friday • June 24 - June 28, 2013 • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

EDUC 464 Technology and the Learning Process (3 credits)
Monday - Friday • July 9 – July 13, 2012 • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This course examines and evaluates the relationship between technology-based resources and learning theories.
In 2013 this course will be offered Monday - Friday • July 8 – July 12, 2012 • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

EDUC 465 Serving Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners (3 credits)
Monday - Friday • July 16 - July 20, 2012 • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This course provides teachers with knowledge, understandings, and skills to engage culturally and linguistically diverse students in mainstream classrooms.
In 2013 this course will be offered Monday - Friday • July 15 - July 19, 2012 • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.