Meet NCLB's requirements for research-based literacy and reading instruction by analyzing in-depth studies of the use of phonemic awareness, phonics, and word recognition to develop the skills required for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to expand vocabulary, improve comprehension and fluency, and gain independence.

Discover the power of author studies to motivate students to read and write. This course uses a problem-based approach to teach the techniques of conducting an author study integrating technology and the Internet. Explore author and other Web sites to collect resources that will introduce your students to many genres.

Learn to use Writing Workshops to teach the theory and practice of writing to your early elementary students. From setting up and maintaining a Writing Workshop to analyzing obstacles to good student writing, you'll have the opportunity to share insights with online colleagues. You'll write a synthesis paper or design a class Web site to accompany a Writing Workshop program as your final project.

Discover the course that previous participants have called "a real eye-opener with very practical information." Focusing on research paper writing, you'll learn to find topics that capture and maintain the interest of young adolescents. In addition, the course explores the connection between reading and writing, and how technology supports writing, revising, storing, and publishing a research paper.

Blending both theoretical and practical information about oral language development for students PreK 3, this course will introduce you to proven ways to assess students' oral language skills and will give you the opportunity to practice strategies for teaching vocabulary to young students. The course also covers tactics for differentiating instruction to meet the needs of diverse students.