Literacy Studies Program

The Department of Educational Specialties houses the Literacy Studies program. This academic program provides courses in the teaching of literacy skills to teacher license candidates; offers master's degrees leading to the Nevada Literacy Specialist Endorsement; and provides doctoral study to those who aspire to be scholars and leaders in the field.

What is Literacy Studies?

We define literacy as a broader set of skills than traditional reading and writing. It certainly encompasses reading and writing, but it also includes speaking and thinking and all the cognitive processes (problem-solving, critical-thinking, etc.) that involve language. The concept of literacy has expanded in other ways too and includes topics such as academic literacy, computer literacy and media literacy. We also recognize the importance of students' "home literacy" skills and how those might differ from what they are expected to do in school. The study of literacy has special implications for students whose native language is not English, and our literacy studies program has an emphasis on supporting English language learners.

What is Special About Literacy Studies at UNR?

Our goal is to support the broad literacy development of all individuals. We recognize that literacy is essential to learning, multidimensional in nature, and influenced by linguistic, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Our commitment to literacy is evident through our teaching, research and service. We prepare and support teachers and researchers to better understand pressing literacy issues and to meet the literacy needs of every student. We conduct research on multiple facets of literacy development and instruction. Our service, both in local schools to support teachers and students as they strengthen their literacy practices and in state, regional, national, and international organizations, demonstrates our commitment to literacy.

Highlights and opportunities for students in our programs include:

• NCATE accredited programs (National Association for the Accreditation of Teacher Education)
• Award-winning faculty and students, including two UNR foundation professors: Shane Templeton and Diane Barone
• Active faculty involvement and leadership in professional organizations including the National Council for Teachers of English, the International Reading Association, the National Reading Conference, and the Consortium for Reading Excellence
• Numerous faculty and student research contributions to regional, national, and international conferences
• Innovative literacy research programs in local schools and in schools across the US supporting students from diverse backgrounds and their teachers
• Opportunities for advanced students to teach at the college level and conduct research

In 2005, the National Academy of Education’s Committee on Teacher Education published its recommendations for how teachers should be prepared to teach literacy. These recommendations are found in Knowledge to Support the Teaching of Reading: Preparing Teachers for a Changing World, edited by Catherine Snow, Peg Griffin, & M. Susan Burns. Click here to see a table illustrating how the literacy studies faculty have incorporated these recommendations into programs at UNR (Acrobat file).

Faculty and Projects in Literacy Studies at UNR

Alphabetical listing of faculty:

• Diane Barone, Professor of Literacy Studies
• Donald Bear, Professor of Literacy Studies
• Cynthia Brock, Associate Professor of Literacy Studies
• Julie Pennington, Associate Professor of Literacy Studies
• Shane Templeton, Professor of Literacy Studies
• Dianna Townsend, Assistant Professor of Literacy Studies
• Suzette Youngs, Instructor in Literacy Studies
  
  

Projects and centers related to literacy studies:

• E.L. Cord Foundation Center for Learning and Literacy - For 37 years, the Center for Learning and Literacy  has helped children learn to read and write. Our mission is to improve literacy instruction in Nevada through teacher education and to provide literacy services to children and adults in Northern Nevada.
• The Lemelson Literacy Project - This is a cohort program for selected Washoe County School District teachers earning their Master's degrees in literacy through the sponsorship of Mrs. Dorothy Lemelson and the Lemelson Educational Achievement Foundation. 
• Reading First - Reading First is a federal program with a primary goal to ensure that all children in U.S. school learn to read well by the end of third grade. The overall grant period is 6 years, with a mid-point at 3 years where states and districts receiving grants will need to show K-3 reading progress to continue receiving Reading First awards.
• The Northern Nevada Writing Project - We are fortunate to share offices with the nationally acclaimed NNWP.  The NNWP is one of more than 170 affiliates of the National Writing Project.  The goals of the NNWP since 1982 have been to improve student writing by improving the teaching of writing, to improve university and school professional development programs for classroom teachers, and to increase the professional power of classroom teachers.  The activities of the NNWP include: teacher training workshops, teacher research groups, Write Stuff and TWIST (summer writing programs for students), Book-Out; Piñon Poetry Festival; parent/family writing nights; distance education classes; secondary and elementary writing guides; and Project Outreach.
  

How Can I Support Literacy Studies at UNR?

There are a variety of ways to support students or faculty in the Literacy Studies program. For more information about support, please contact Mitch Klaich, Director of Development in the College of Education.

For more information about the academic programs in Literacy Studies, consult the degree program pages on this web site or contact:

Department of Educational Specialties