Licensure Only: Specialist Teacher of Reading (All Levels) 12-27 Credits
This program of study is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Initial License in Specialist Teacher of Reading (All Levels) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This licensure-only program is for licensed classroom teachers with a Master's degree who seek further certification as a specialist teacher of reading. It allows teachers to add an additional license to advance initial licenses to Professional (Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Moderate Disabilities). Graduates of Lesley’s M.Ed. in Language and Literacy may take advantage of the 12-15 credit pathway to licensure. The program offers thorough training in literacy strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners across grades K-12. Students work with professors on literacy research, pedagogy, and policy, and focus on staff development and direct services to students.
Note: A MA Initial or Professional license and at least one year of teaching experience under that license are required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to be eligible for a license as a specialist teacher of reading. Teacher candidates may still apply for the license before that year of teaching is complete. Upon documentation of the completed year of teaching, the license will be issued by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
Courses may be waived based on previous equivalent coursework or past experience. Courses waived will reduce the total number of program credits. Minimum required program credits: 12.
Program Prerequisites
- Completed Master's degree and Initial or Professional license for classroom teacher or special education teacher, or documented enrollment in a Master's degree program leading to Initial license at the time of application.
- EEDUC 5400 Literacy and Literature: Methods and Materials (1-6), (or equivalent)
- EEDUC 5122 Development and Learning: Psycho-social Perspectives in Education (or a course in child development and a course in adolescent development)
- EECLD 6115 Sheltered English Instruction (PreK-6), EECLD 6116 Sheltered English Instruction (5-12), or documented state-approved SEI endorsement.
Program of Study
Required Courses (21 credits):
| EECLD 6001 | Culturally Responsive Teaching | 3 |
| EECLD 6002 | Essential Linguistics: What Every Teacher Needs to Know about Language | 3 |
| EEDUC 6174 | Literature for Children, Tweens, and Teens in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| or | |
| EEDUC 6032 | Exploring Nonfiction for the Elementary and Middle School Classroom | 3 |
| EEDUC 6001 | The Teaching of Writing (K-12) | 3 |
| EEDUC 6135 | Assessment: A Literacy Perspective | 3 |
| or | |
| EECLD 6012 | Assessment for Equity and Inclusion of CLD Learners: Linguistic/Cultural Differences and Disabilities | 3 |
| EEDUC 6136 | Struggling Readers and Writers | 3 |
| EEDUC 7103 | Roles of the Language Arts Professional: Consultation and Collaboration | 3 |
Practicum (6 credits):
Prerequisites: Successful completion of required pre-practicum courses and satisfactory completion of appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) requirements. This 150-hour practicum is accompanied by a weekly seminar and requires a field experience fee. In most cases, the 150 hour practicum may be completed in your classroom. Candidates with questions regarding the alignment of their classroom to the Reading Specialist license are advised to seek guidance from the Lesley Field Office.
| EEDUC 7105 | Practicum: Interactive Assessment and Instruction for Literacy | 6 |