Specialist Certificate in Teaching Writing and Literacy
Join a community of educators from all content areas for Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Specialist Certificate: Teaching Writing and Literacy, a 15-credit post-baccalaureate program offered through the Penn State Lehigh Valley Writing Project. Similar in design to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s range of educational endorsements, the Writing Specialist Certificate is designed to afford educators deep study in all aspects of teaching literacy.
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. Participants may pursue their National Writing Project Fellowship with the optional 3-credit capstone course.
Course Schedule
Summer 2018
EDUC 400 - Diversity and Cultural Awareness Practices in the K-12 Classroom (3 credits)
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m • July 9–13, 2018
This course is focused on understanding oneself and one's role as an educator through a social justice lens. Teachers will gain an awareness of the systems of privilege, discrimination, power, and oppression operating in their classrooms so as to incorporate these ideas into the curricula they teach.
EDUC 432 - Children's Literature in Teaching Writing (3 credits)
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m • July 16–20, 2018
Participants will learn methods for transferring writing skills and literary devices from literature to student writing in all subject areas.
EDUC 471 - Best Practices in Teaching Literacy: Science (3 credits)
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m • July 23–27, 2018
An application of best literacy practices to classroom instruction and assessment of reading, writing, listening, and speaking in the science classroom.
Who does this program benefit?
This program would benefit the following groups:
- K-12 teachers in all content areas
- ESL, gifted, and special education teachers
- Literacy coaches
- Paraprofessionals
- Curriculum coordinators
- Administrators
Please Note: Writing Project Fellows may transfer their six Summer Institute credits. Additionally, some courses in the Specialist Certificate in Teaching Writing Literacy program may count as electives in the Master's in Teaching and Curriculum program at Penn State Harrisburg.
Registration
To register for the Specialist Certificate program, interested individuals should contact:
Nicole Moschberger
Director, Lehigh Valley Writing Project
610-285-5239
Dr. Mary Hutchinson
Associate Professor, ESL Education
Faculty Advisor, Civic & Community Engagement Minor
610-285-5000