Reading Endorsement Program

The Reading Endorsement Program is offered through three courses:

Course 1 - Foundations of Teaching Reading in a Pluralistic Society
This course is designed to provide and extend candidates’ knowledge of the reading process by examining theory and research as a foundation for making instructional decisions for planning and implementing effective literacy programs. In order to inform such decision-making, candidates will explore current issues, materials, strategies, and approaches to teaching reading to P-12 children in our pluralistic society.

Course 2 – Reading Assessment, Diagnosis and Evaluation
This course is designed to provide candidates with knowledge of theoretical models, methods, and materials of literacy assessment. Such knowledge will provide candidates with the framework needed to administer assessments, and use the information from formal and informal measures to develop appropriate literacy instruction that meets the needs of every student in the classrooms. Critical to this course is the candidates’ need to reflect on personal beliefs about reading assessment and the relationship to their own teaching and learning. This course requires a 25 hour practicum experience.

Course 3 - Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
This course is designed to provide candidates with a conceptual and instructional framework based for teaching reading and writing in the content areas. Realizing that much of what is read involves informational texts (e.g., books, magazines, newspaper, instructions, directions, textbooks, guides, and other content sources) this course will provide candidate with research-based strategies for to help readers comprehend such text structures. Essential to this course is interrelationship between reading and writing.

• Each course is 50 hours of instructional time (5 PLUs). Attendance at all class meetings is required.
• Each endorsement course offered through the Professional Learning Department at Pioneer RESA is $325, with a minimum enrollment of 15 participants.
• Systems desiring to offer an endorsement cohort in their own system should contact Dr. Anna Brown, Professional Learning Coordinator, at Pioneer RESA for further information.
• All three courses must be completed in the order listed above to apply for Reading Endorsement.
• Some courses may be offered online or via a blended format (online and class meetings).
• This endorsement must be completed within two years of beginning the program.
• Candidates are required to have access to required books (whether through purchase or using a colleague’s). There are also a number of articles that candidates must download.
• Eligibility requirements: Clear renewable Georgia teaching certificate, three years of teaching experience, employed by a Georgia school system, and recommendations of local professional learning director/coordinator and building level administrator.
• Each course has required reading and appropriate assignments, field experiences, and exams.

Application packet available here.