ELM 305 Topic 1 Assignment Digital Presentation: The Importance of Literacy
Early literacy relies on appropriately preparing young children for reading. As young children are exposed to letters and sounds, they begin to build a foundation for phonemic awareness. This step is critical in preparing for the sequential order of reading instruction. Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension build off each other to provide appropriate development for literacy.
Create a 12‐15 slide digital presentation intended to be shown to elementary general education classroom teachers within a professional development setting.
Address the following within your presentation:
Describe the scope and importance of reading education history in the U.S.
Discuss the importance of literacy in Grades K‐3 and the educational effects on students in their later academic years.
Provide an overview of the Big 5 components of reading instruction (i.e., phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension).
Describe how the brain is involved in the Big 5 components of reading instruction and how the sequential order of each component is important for cognitive processing and reading instruction .
Identify and describe two intervention strategies, per Big 5 component, for struggling readers. At least one strategy identified, per component, should be appropriate for students to use at home .
Include a title slide, reference slide, and presenter notes.
Support your presentation with 3‐5 scholarly resources.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in‐text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
ELM 305 Topic 2 Assignment Clinical Field Experience A: Literacy Assessment and Framework
This field experience will provide you practical experience and modeled application regarding how teachers assess literacy, as well as explicit information about how data collection drives further instruction. You will also be exposed to how the cognitive, emotional, social, and developmental needs of students are factored into instruction choices.
Allocate at least 5 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Observe, interview, and collaborate with a Grade 1‐3 certified general education teacher, focusing on literacy assessment.
Your interview should address the following:
How does assessment data drive instruction and the literacy framework?
What data collection methods are used to track and monitor student progress? What technology tools are used to focus on continuous and effective data collection and analysis?
How are assessment results shared with students and students’ families?
What does a successful comprehensive literacy framework include?
What does a typical literacy block of instruction include?
What steps are taken to develop a literacy framework that meets the needs of all students?
What steps are taken to monitor and adjust instruction based on student needs?
What technology tools are utilized in the classroom to reinforce and develop literacy curricular concepts outlined in the literacy framework?
Use any remaining field experience hours to Help the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class. Focus your observations and collaboration on literacy assessment practices.
In 250‐500 words, reflect upon your observation, interview, and collaboration, highlighting how the mentor teacher uses literacy assessment and a literacy framework in the classroom. Summarize and reflect upon your experience and explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the LMS in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ELM 305 Topic 2 Assignment 2 Assessments for Reading
Complete the “Assessments for Reading” chart by defining and describing details and examples related to the following types of literacy assessments.
General screening assessments
Diagnostic testing assessments
Progress monitoring assessments
Outcome assessments
Support your findings with 2‐4 scholarly or other professional resources.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in‐text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
ELM 305 Topic 3 Assignment Clinical Field Experience B: Student Needs and Instructional Planning
This field experience will give you practical experience observing how educators promote student literacy development through phonemic awareness, as well as practical experience in choosing instructional resources appropriate to curriculum goals and content standards.
Allocate at least 5 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Observe, collaborate with, and interview your mentor teacher regarding literacy instruction.
In collaboration with your mentor, identify a small group of 3‐5 students at various literacy skill levels and needs (i.e., below grade level, at grade level, above grade level, IEP, ADHD, or behavior concerns). Take time to observe and possibly Help with this group of students in the classroom, focusing on their literacy skills.
Work with your mentor teacher on the following:
Discuss your observations of the identified small group of students and their specific literacy needs.
Consider instructional strategies to differentiate learning focusing on the identified student needs.
Request permission to design and deliver a literacy lesson plan and assessment for the small group of students in upcoming field experience assignments.
Select a book to be used within the literacy lesson plan you will be developing. The book should be appropriate for creating reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing activities. Take into consideration identified student needs, differentiation strategies, and appropriate technology tools.
In 150‐300 words, summarize and reflect upon your observations, collaboration, and interview. Provide relevant examples that demonstrate specific student literacy needs. Include literacy lesson plan ideas related to reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing activities that utilize the identified book. Explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice.
Use any remaining field experience hours to Help the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the LMS in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ELM 305 Topic 3 Assignment 2 Phonemic Awareness Skills
Phonemic awareness is crucial to both reading and spelling success. Using a question and answer format when teaching phonemic awareness is a common and useful strategy. Scripting the questions you will pose to your future students and their potential responses can help prepare you for implementing your future literacy lessons.
Complete the “Phonemic Awareness Table,” by identifying and using words from the “Birthday Soup” excerpt. Script phonemic awareness practice activities, the description and purpose of the task, and the alignment to state standards for each of the g phoneme tasks.
Support your findings with 2‐3 scholarly sources.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in‐text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
ELM 305 Topic 4 Assignment Clinical Field Experience C: Literacy Pre-Assessment
Developing activities based on assessment data is integral to meeting students’ learning needs. Small group instruction is a great way to practice the skill of using assessment data to drive instruction. In collaboration with your mentor, identify a small group (3‐5 students) to work with for this clinical field experience.
Allocate at least 4 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Part 1: Standards‐Based Literacy Assessment
In collaboration with your mentor teacher, chose a grade‐appropriate literacy standard for reading comprehension and vocabulary to develop a pre‐assessment for and, later, a lesson. Keeping in mind the group of students and book you selected in Topic 3, complete the following:
Write a learning objective that is developmentally appropriate for the group of students and aligns to the state standard.
Design an informal pre‐assessment activity that will allow you to assess and document the students’ reading skills.
Obtain feedback from your mentor on the pre‐assessment.
Use any remaining field experience hours to Help the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class based on the needs of the pre‐assessment.
Part 2: Reflection
In 250‐500 words, summarize the objective and pre‐assessment you developed and reflect upon your mentor’s feedback. Identify a strength of your assessment and an opportunity for growth. How might you change this assessment to better assess the students’ reading skills ? How will your findings inform your future professional practice? Submit your learning objective and pre‐assessment with your reflection.
Support your findings with 2‐3 scholarly sources.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in‐text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the LMS in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ELM 305 Topic 5 Assignment Clinical Field Experience D: Analyzing Pre-Assessment Data
Analyzing pre‐assessment data to help you adjust your future instruction to reach students who may not have mastered the concept. Re‐teaching a concept to a small group is a great way to practice the skill of using assessment data to drive instruction.
Allocate at least 3 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Part 1: Standards‐Based Literacy Assessment
Working with your certified general education mentor teacher:
Implement the pre‐assessment you designed in Topic 4 with a small group of students.
Using the data from the pre‐assessment, design a learning activity to teach the literacy standard and aligned learning objective.
Revise the activity based on your mentor’s feedback.
Use any remaining field experience hours to Help the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
Part 2: Preassessment Reflection
In 150‐300 words, summarize your activity and reflect upon the preassessment data, the instruction you designed, and the feedback from your instructor.
Analyze and discuss how your activity implements instructional strategies that build reading fluency skills that are appropriate for the students in your field experience classroom.
Explain how you used the pre‐assessment data to help develop your lesson.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the LMS in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ELM 305 Topic 6 Assignment Clinical Field Experience E: Literacy Post-Assessment
Analyzing pre‐assessment data to help you adjust your future instruction to reach students who may not have mastered the concept. Re‐teaching a concept to a small group is a great way to practice the skill of using assessment data to drive instruction.
Allocate at least 3 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Part 1: Standards‐Based Literacy Assessment
Working with your certified general education mentor teacher:
Implement your activity with your designated small group of students.
Reassess the students using the same pre‐assessment format, now as the post‐assessment.
Use any remaining field experience hours to Help the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
Part 2: Lesson Reflection
In 250‐500 words, address the following:
summarize your activity and reflect upon your instructional choices, activity delivery, and pre‐ and post‐assessment data.
Analyze the data from your pre‐ and post‐assessments and discuss how you would use that data to guide your future planning and instruction.
Reflect on the delivery of the activity. Identify successes of the activity delivery, as well as opportunities for revision.
Use any remaining field experience hours to Help the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the LMS in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ELM 305 Topic 6 Vocabulary Strategies
Vocabulary games are one way to promote engagement and motivation for students while they practice their standards‐based literacy skills. Vocabulary games require purpose and thoughtful planning to be effective.
Choose a story excerpt from “Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects” and review “Case Scenario: Jacob” to inform this assignment.
Part 1: Vocabulary Game
Create a small group vocabulary game aligned to one or more research‐based strategies that meets Jacob’s needs. Incorporate a minimum of 10 vocabulary words from a story excerpt of your choice within your game.
Use the ‘Vocabulary Strategies’ template to address the aspects of the game.
The story excerpt chosen and vocabulary words with grade level appropriate definitions.
Rules of the game, to include the roles of both teacher and students.
How to expand the game to include higher‐level thinking.
Two accommodations/modifications, one for English Language Learners (ELLs) and one for a student with special needs, specifying their needs.
Part 2: Rationale
In 250‐500 words, write a rationale to address the following:
How does the vocabulary game implement one or more research‐based strategy to support students’ vocabulary development?
How does the game help to engage and motivate the students?
How does the game help Jacob achieve his learning goal?
Support your findings with 2‐3 scholarly sources.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in‐text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
ELM 305 Topic 7 Benchmark – Reading Comprehension Plan
As an educator, you will be designing learning activities that engage your students and facilitate language development. Creating learning experiences aligned to academic standards and the students’ individual learning goals is vital to student success.
Read the scenario below to inform the assignment:
Seven-year-old Alfonso has two months left in his first grade year. He is active and outgoing, has many friends, and loves to play soccer. Science is his favorite subject. He enjoys learning anything related to space and sloths. He is very curious and particularly likes hands‐on academic activities that use manipulatives.
During literacy class instruction, Alfonso can sound out words well, but struggles with reading comprehension including word meanings and finding connections among words in various grade appropriate texts. Alfonso has a particularly hard time connecting what he reads with what he already knows. He often brings up irrelevant information when trying to make these connections.
Alfonso’s teacher, Ms. Seymour, wants to ensure Alphonso masters the vocabulary and comprehension skills that are expected before the end of the year, so she has written the following curricular/academic goals for him:
Given a grade‐appropriate text with new vocabulary, Alphonso will use context clues and other strategies, such as consulting a dictionary, to help determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Given a grade‐appropriate text, Alphonso will make connections from text to self to help comprehend the meaning of the text.
Part 1: Lesson Outline
Using the “Reading Comprehension Lesson Outline Template ,” develop a research‐based reading lesson outline to help Alphonso reach his vocabulary and reading comprehension goals. Begin by selecting a grade‐appropriate children’s book on which to base the lesson.
The lesson plan outline should include the following:
Three learning objectives aligned to one or more state literacy standard that reflects the literacy goals Alphonso is working to achieve.
The selected book and a vocabulary activity that introduces five vocabulary words directly from the book.
A comprehension activity that allows Alfonso to demonstrate his comprehension of the story.
Two research‐based strategies that can be integrated into the vocabulary and comprehension activities to help Alfonso meet his vocabulary and comprehension goals.
Opportunities for Alfonso to apply these skills to different situations or content areas.
Part 2: Rationale and Specialist Planning
Provide a 500‐750 word narrative that includes a rationale for the reading comprehension lesson plan and a plan to work with a reading specialist. In the rationale, explain the following:
The alignment between Alphonso’s curricular/academic goals, the lesson activities, and the presented research‐based strategies.
How the lesson addresses Alfonso’s specific learning needs as well as his interests.
At least one learning theory that supports the selected strategies.
Suppose your principal arranged for a reading specialist to help with meeting Alphonso’s developmental needs. In the same narrative as above, describe a structured system you and the specialist could put in place that involves short‐ and long‐term goal setting, as well as data analysis, re‐Assessment, and feedback to Alphonso and his family .
Include at least three scholarly sources to support your lesson, rationale, and specialist plan.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
College of Education (COE) program competencies and national standards assessed in the benchmark assignment:
COE 3.1
Plan instruction based on knowledge of students, learning theory, connections across the curriculum, curricular goals, and community. [ACEI 3.1; InTASC 7(a), 7(c), 7(g), 7(h), 7(i); GCU Mission Critical 2, 4]
COE 3.6
Collaboratively plan short‐ and long‐range goals utilizing professionals with specialized expertise to meet individual student needs and enhance learning. [ACEI 3.2; InTASC 7(e), 7(f), 7(o), 7(p); GCU Mission Critical 2, 4]
ELM 305 Topic 8 Applying Writing Strategies
There are several research‐based strategies that can be used to teach students how to integrate the elements of the writing process (planning, organizing, writing and revising). Some of these strategies, such as, “POW + TREE” and “STOP and DARE,” incorporate mnemonic devices to help students remember the elements.
Review “Case Study: Kaynia” to inform this assignment.
Write a 500‐750 word essay on writing strategies that can be taught to students to develop their skills in applying the elements of the writing process.
Discuss the following in your essay:
Describe the “POW + TREE” and the “STOP and DARE” writing strategies, along with a third research‐based strategy of your choice that is appropriate for Kaynia’s grade.
Out of the three writing strategies you described, select one to use with Kaynia, rationalizing your choice and explaining how that strategy would allow her to meet her writing goal, as well as engage in personal reflection and apply standards to evaluate her own writing.
Support your findings with a minimum of three scholarly sources.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the
LopesWrite Technical Support articles for Helpance.
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Topic 1 of ELM 305 Assignment The Importance of Literacy in the Digital Age
Early literacy relies on appropriately preparing young children for reading. As young children are exposed to letters and sounds, they begin to build a foundation for phonemic awareness. This step is critical in preparing for the sequential order of reading instruction. Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension build off each other to provide appropriate development for literacy.
Create a 12‐15 slide digital presentation intended to be shown to elementary general education classroom teachers within a professional development setting.
Address the following within your presentation:
Describe the scope and importance of reading education history in the U.S.
Discuss the importance of literacy in Grades K‐3 and the educational effects on students in their later
