Overview

M.S. Literacy Birth–Grade 6
M.S. Literacy Grades 5–12
M.S. Literacy Birth–Grade 6 and Grades 5–12

Dr. Kathleen A. Broikou, Program Director

Mission

The mission of the Master of Science in Literacy Education program is to prepare highly capable and ethically responsible literacy professionals who thoroughly understand and can implement the theory and practice of literacy acquisition and instruction. Consistent with the missions of St. John Fisher College and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education, as well as the standards set forth by the International Reading Association and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the literacy program develops the knowledge, skills, and dispositions literacy educators need in order to effectively teach all students ways of using multiple forms of text that will provide them with opportunities for success in a global community. The program embraces the belief that all children learn and that learning occurs when students are actively engaged in constructing meaning within a collaborative and supportive community of learners. As such, our candidates in literacy learn how to create learning environments that address the diverse learning needs of students, are informed by best practices, use ongoing meaningful assessment of student learning, and are continuously informed by self-reflection and a commitment to professional development. Finally, our candidates learn how to disseminate information about literacy development to the family and community so that literacy learning becomes meaningful in all aspects of a child’s life.

The program is designed for teachers who hold initial or provisional classroom certification and wish to become certified in literacy education. We offer graduate literacy programs leading toward professional certification in Literacy Birth to Grade 6 and Literacy Grades 5 to 12. Candidates may elect to complete a program that leads to one certification or both certifications.

Program Goals

This program is designed to develop literacy professionals who:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the theory and practice of teaching literacy.
• Understand literacy acquisition as something that occurs across the lifespan, out of school, as well as in school.
• Create positive connections with families and communities in order to support both in- and out-of-school literacy learning.
• Demonstrate an understanding and respect for cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity.
• Have the ability to create programs to address the strengths and needs of individual learners.
• Have advanced knowledge of the learner and learning environment as well as practical skills in design, implementation, teaching strategies, assessment, and evaluation of literacy programs.
• Encourage all teachers, regardless of discipline or special areas, to understand language and literacy as tools for thinking and learning that integrate reading, writing, listening, speaking, and visual representation.
• Have the expertise and habits of mind that lead to equitable pedagogy in order to address the needs of all students, including those with diverse perspectives and special needs.
• Practice continuous reflection and professional development.

Admission Requirements

Candidates are required to have initial or provisional teacher certification and present satisfactory evidence of the ability to perform at the graduate level for admission to the graduate program in Literacy Education at St. John Fisher College. The School of Education Admissions Committee and the program director assess applicant qualifications. Applicants may submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to strengthen an application. Candidates must score 500 or higher on each of the tests.

For information regarding application and admission to the Master of Science in Literacy Education program, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at (585) 385-8161 or e-mail grad@sjfc.edu.

For specific information regarding the Master of Science in Literacy Education program, please contact Dr. Kathleen Broikou, program director, at (585) 385-8112 or e-mail kbroikou@sjfc.edu.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, candidates will be able to:

• Choose literacy practices that demonstrate knowledge of psychological, social, cultural, and linguistic foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the major components of reading (phonemic awareness, word identification and phonics, vocabulary and background knowledge, fluency, comprehension strategies, and motivation) and how they are integrated into fluent reading.
• Use their knowledge of the writing processes, language development, writing development, and ongoing assessment to provide instruction in the components of writing, assist students in constructing meaning in their written work, and provide genuine opportunities for students to write for a variety of purposes and audiences.
• Demonstrate knowledge of language development and literacy acquisition and the variations related to culture and linguistic diversity.
• Select and use a wide range of instructional practices, approaches, methods, and curriculum materials, including technology-based practices, to support reading and writing instruction for learners at different stages of reading and writing development and from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Select and use a variety of assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading and writing instruction that meet the needs of all students, including those at differing developmental stages and those from differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Create a caring, supportive, inclusive, challenging, democratic, and safe learning environment that fosters literacy development, independently and collaboratively, by integrating foundational knowledge, use of instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessments.
• Demonstrate valuing of the role of student language, particularly student talk, in student learning, and establish an appreciation of student culture/language background as a foundation for future learning and engagement in learning.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the new literacies (i.e., digital, visual, and media literacy) and their impact on literacy acquisition and instruction.
• Demonstrate an understanding and respect for the role language and literacy play within various disciplines (social studies, science, mathematics, foreign language, etc.).
• Demonstrate multiple comprehension strategies appropriate within particular disciplines for development of active literacy users within the subject area.
• Create ways to engage students, teachers, parents, and other adults from the community to enrich instruction.
• Participate in, initiate, implement, and evaluate professional development programs.
• Contribute actively to the improvement of teaching and learning and to the advancement of knowledge and professional practice.

Program Requirements

M.S. Literacy Birth-Grade 6 Degree Requirements

*GRDG 637 is taken twice for a total of 6 credits.

M.S. Literacy Grades 5-12 Degree Requirements

*GRDG 638 is taken twice for a total of 6 credits.

M.S. Literacy Birth-Grade 6 and Grade 5-12 Degree Requirements