Literacy Endorsement
Reading Specialist K-12 Endorsement
"Literacy unlocks the door to learning throughout life. It is essential to development and health, and opens the way for democratic participation and active citizenship. Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.”
–Kofi Annan
Knowing how to communicate well via reading, writing, listening, and speaking makes a dramatic difference in individuals’ lives and opportunities. Literacy skills give us access to a wide range of texts, which can contribute to our intellectual, emotional, cultural, and moral development. These skills are also instrumental for developing specialized knowledge in unlimited areas, including the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and trades. Strong verbal and written communication skills are increasingly essential for attaining economic independence and engaging in a democratic society. This endorsement aims to prepare candidates to take on the important and rewarding responsibility of teaching literacy and language arts to K-12 students with a range of learning needs, and to become literacy education leaders within schools and districts.
Courses are designed to address national and state standards endorsed by the International Literacy Association (ILA) to promote professional competencies and key skills for literacy teachers, reading teachers, reading specialists, and literacy coaches.
The literacy team at the University of Montana offers the State of Montana Reading Specialist K-12 Endorsement for undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and M.Ed. graduate students.
Reading Specialist (Literacy Endorsement) – UM Undergraduate:
Undergraduate students not yet admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) will simultaneously complete the Literacy Endorsement application when applying for admission to the TEP.
Undergraduate students currently enrolled in the Teacher Education Program seeking to add the reading teaching minor must complete the Literacy Endorsement application.
Reading Specialist (Literacy Endorsement) Post-baccalaureate Level with Initial Teaching License
- Complete a post-baccalaureate application with Undergraduate Admissions.
- Complete the Department of Teaching & Learning Submittable application for either a secondary education or elementary education teaching license.
- Complete the Department of Teaching & Learning Literacy Endorsement application.
Reading Specialist (Literacy Endorsement) Post-baccalaureate Level Endorsement Only:
Currently licensed teachers interested in pursuing the literacy endorsement at the post-baccalaureate level:
- Complete a post-baccalaureate application with Undergraduate Admissions.
- Complete the Department of Teaching & Learning Literacy Endorsement application.
Current UM Master of Education Students:
Current UM M.Ed. students completing an initial elementary or secondary teaching license may pursue the literacy endorsement as a teaching minor.
- Complete the Literacy Endorsement application.
Student Outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of individual, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity in the teaching process.
- Demonstrate instructional practices, approaches, methods, and curriculum materials to support reading and writing instruction.
- Demonstrate assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading instruction.
- Integrate knowledge and practices to monitor and evaluate the reading program and student learning.
All candidates must take and pass the Praxis II Content Knowledge Test: Reading (test number 5204, minimum passing score 159). Please visit the Licensure Specialist for details.
Contact Us
Faculty:
Dr. Kate Brayko
Associate Professor
Department of Teaching & Learning
kate.brayko@umontana.edu
406.243.4841
Endorsement & Licensure:
Kathy Schneider
Licensure and Clinical Experiences Specialist
Teacher Education Services
kathy.schneider@mso.umt.edu
406-243-4846