Choosing a Strong Prep Program

For those entering the field of education, evaluating how prospective educator preparation programs prepare their students to teach literacy is essential. Ask questions to determine if the school has a strong program:

• Do they teach the neurobiological process of how the brain learns to read?
• Will I develop a deep understanding of the English language in order to explicitly and systematically teach it to students? 
• Do faculty use textbooks that are rated as exemplary by NCTQ’s Instructional Materials? 
• Are the International Dyslexia Association’s Knowledge and Practice Standards the guiding framework for program and syllabi development? 
• Are ineffective, “red flag” practices named in The Reading League’s Curriculum Evaluation Guidelines absent from methods courses?

Ensuring your teaching journey begins with instructional methods supported by decades of research will empower you to support struggling readers and improve outcomes for ALL of your students.