The Reading Teacher Minor supports educators in developing a strong knowledge base in the area of literacy. Strong literacy skills are essential for success across all content areas and grade levels. Our program prepares you with the foundational knowledge of language and literacy learning with a focus on social justice and an aim to help students become empowered through their own literacy skills. The Reading Teacher minor includes 19 credit hours in targeted aspects of literacy.
Upon completion of the BSEd from the School of Education, students meeting the Reading Teacher minor requirements are eligible to receive the Illinois State Reading Teacher Endorsement (for grades PK-12). This endorsement can only be added to a Professional Educator license; therefore, this minor is only open to students who are enrolled as Education majors and seeking to become licensed educators. Students with majors in Elementary Education, Middle Grades English Language Arts and Social Studies, and Secondary English Education can complete this minor within their four-year program plan. All other Education majors will likely require additional semesters to be added to their undergraduate program. Always consult with your SOE advisor to discuss how to complete minor requirements.
Curriculum
The table below lists all requirements for the Reading Teacher minor. These include School of Education courses, TLSC field-based learning modules, and a practicum, all of which should be taken in the order displayed in the Suggested Sequence of Classes table. This ensures that students meet prerequisite requirements and enroll in minor courses intended to be aligned with particular semesters of the Education major. The Reading minor meets the Tier 1 Literary requirement from the University Core.
Reading Teacher minors who are majoring in Elementary Education also enroll in a specialized Professional Learning Community (PLC), where they collaborate each semester with all Elementary Reading Teacher minors and a faculty expert in literacy instruction.
Course Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| CIEP 206 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| or CIEP 350 | Adolescent Literature |
| CIEP 305 | Reading Teacher Practicum | 3 |
| CIEP 328 | Assessment and Diagnosis of Reading Problems | 3 |
| CIEP 329 | Materials, Resources, & Strategies for Reading Teacher | 3 |
| CIEP 359 | Teaching Reading 1 | 3 |
| or CIEP 327 | Teaching English Language Arts in the Middle Grades |
| TLSC 310 | Language and Literacy for Diverse Students | 2 |
| TLSC 330 | Discipline-Specific Literacy for Diverse Students | 2 |
| Total Hours | 19 |
Suggested Sequence of Classes
Plan of Study Grid
| Year 1 |
|---|
CIEP 206
|
Children's Literature
or Adolescent Literature |
3 |
| | Hours | 3 |
| Year 2 |
|---|
CIEP 359
|
Teaching Reading 1
or Teaching English Language Arts in the Middle Grades |
3 |
| | Hours | 3 |
| Year 3 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| TLSC 310 |
Language and Literacy for Diverse Students 2 |
2 |
| TLSC 330 |
Discipline-Specific Literacy for Diverse Students |
2 |
| CIEP 328 |
Assessment and Diagnosis of Reading Problems |
3 |
| | Hours | 7 |
| Spring |
|---|
| CIEP 329 |
Materials, Resources, & Strategies for Reading Teacher |
3 |
| | Hours | 3 |
| Year 4 |
|---|
| Spring |
|---|
| CIEP 305 |
Reading Teacher Practicum |
3 |
| | Hours | 3 |
| | Total Hours | 19 |
School of Education Policies
All Education majors enroll each semester in the TLSC 300A (fall) and TLSC 300B (spring) section designed for their major. Reading minors majoring in Elementary Education enroll in a specialized section of the PLC. PLCs meet on three Monday evenings at the end of each semester, and fall/spring PLC credit is issued in the spring. Grades of "C-" or lower in any course or module are not counted toward fulfillment of minor requirements. In order to enroll in TLSC modules, all students must complete required documentation procedures, including background checks, at designated points in their pathway and as required by field sites.
Required Illinois Testing
In order to be entitled by ISBE for the Reading Teacher endorsement, all minors must pass the Illinois Reading Teacher Content Exam (Exam 222) prior to graduation.
Undergraduate Policies and Procedures
Please see Undergraduate Policies and Procedures for academic policies that supersede those of academic units within the University.
Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Reading Teacher minor will:
- Demonstrate a knowledge of theories and instructional strategies to promote language and literacy learning in schools
- Reflectively critique and implement a variety of literacy curricula, analyzing how to meet the needs of all learners
- Evaluate evidence-based literacy instruction and reflect on the approaches that help students grow in literacy
- Understand, select, and utilize valid and appropriate assessment tools to screen, diagnose, and measure student literacy growth and performance, while reflectively using the data to make instructional decisions and evaluate interventions
- Evaluate, select, and use inclusive texts and culturally responsive curriculum and materials to support diversity and equity in the classroom, school, and community.
- Demonstrate effective literacy instruction in a variety of settings in the PK-12 range (dependent on certification range)
