Characteristics of the Literacy Knowledge Needed for Teaching
- Teachers possess both a deep content and pedagogical knowledge in reading and writing in order to better anticipate and overcome student misconceptions.
- Teachers possess a deep understanding of how students learn to read and write and incorporate this knowledge in their instruction.
- Teachers apply concepts, practices, principles, technology, and applications in literacy instruction.
- Teachers understand the trajectory of reading/writing which enables them to plan effectively and to make instructional decisions to impact student learning.
- Teachers understand the foundational skills of reading including: phoneme awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension.
- Teachers know how to collect and utilize assessment data in order to make instructional decisions and meet individual student needs. This includes but is not limited to screening indicators, diagnostic assessments, progress monitoring assessments and summative assessments.
- Teachers continually learn and grow their literacy knowledge, remain current in the field, and engage in reflective practice.