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CCTC Accreditation 2022

Literacy Certification

Contact Person
Juliet Wahleithner
jwahleithner@csufresno.edu

Dean
Sergio La Porta
slaporta@csufresno.edu

Associate Dean
Song Lee
malee@csufresno.edu

For technical issues
Contact Laura Rabago at
559.278.0210

Multiple Subject

Part 2. Overview of Required Courses for Literacy Instruction and Process for Program Revisions

Program Required courses where the primary focus is literacy instruction Required courses where literacy standard 7 and TPE 7 are covered but are not the primary focus of the course
Traditional
Residency*
ITEP*


*Please note that, although candidates are enrolled in different pathways, they still take the same courses. 

Program

Internal Program Review Process

Process Involvement

Multiple Subject:
Traditional/Residency/ITEP

Although our program has multiple pathways, all candidates take the same courses. Therefore, the process used to internally review alignment with the new Literacy Standards and TPEs was the same across pathways.

Process:

  • MS and ES Faculty and Coach Work Days (June 12 and August 7): 
    • Review new Literacy Standards and elements of TPE 7
    • Revise course syllabi to align with TPE 7
    • Revise Clinical Practice Evaluation to include elements of TPE 7
  • Faculty continued working to revise syllabi and course assignments to align with TPE 7
  • Revised syllabi and evaluations were submitted and evaluated by lead faculty 
  • Revised syllabi were then shared with all faculty who teach courses within the MS program for implementation in Fall 2024
  • Dr. Juliet Wahleithner, Director, Educator Preparation & Accreditation, & Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Oversaw and facilitated process
  • Dr. Monica Billen, Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Lead faculty for LEE 158
    • Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on Literacy Foundations and Meaning Making
  • Dr. Steven Hart, Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Lead faculty for LEE 166
    • Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on Literacy Foundations and Meaning Making
  • Dr. Lindsay Meeker, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
  • Dr. Nadia Hoover, Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural and Biliteracy Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
    • Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on ELD Standards and ELA/ELD Framework
  • Suzie Brandl, FAST Coordinator & Lecturer, Multiple Subject
    • Oversaw clinical practice evaluation revision
  • Gladys M. Villanueva, Lecturer, Multicultural/Multilingual Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
  • Dr. Kimberly Coy, Associate Professor, Special Education
    • Professional Development for Faculty on Dyslexia and Dyslexia Guidelines

Describe how the program has ensured that faculty teaching the literacy instruction courses understand the requirements in SB 488, the new standards and TPEs, and the evidence base supporting them. If this response differs by pathway, please respond for each pathway.

All MS faculty were invited to attend two faculty work days, held June 12, 2024 and August 7, 2024. Each day provided an overview of SB 488 and its specific requirements, along with overviews of the new Literacy Standards and TPEs. In particular, each day reviewed the required updates to specific elements of the program (MOUs, clinical practice evaluations, coursework, assessments) as well as an overview of the specific elements of TPE 7.

The faculty responsible for revising the literacy-focused syllabi to align with TPE 7 are all experts in literacy education and supporting multilingual students:

  • Dr. Monica Billen, who oversaw the revisions of the master syllabus for LEE 158: Literacy Foundations, holds a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Literacy Studies and an emphasis in Reading Education.
  • Dr. Steve Hart, who oversaw the revisions of the master syllabus for LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies and Integrated Curriculum, holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Reading Education.
  • Dr. Jill Bonds, who supported the development of the master syllabus for LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies and Integrated Curriculum, holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, with research that has focused on second language writers’ academic writing. She also holds a TESOL/TEFL Certificate.
  • Gladys M. Villanueva, who oversaw the revisions of the master syllabus for LEE 159: Culturally & Linguistically, holds an MA in Education, Multilingual Multicultural Education Option.
  • Dr. Lindsay Meeker, who supported the revisions of multiple courses, holds an Ed.D. in Early Childhood and an M.S. in Bilingual and Multicultural Education.
  • Dr. Kimberly Coy, who oversaw revisions of SPED 179: Differentiated Instruction and Classroom Management, holds a Ph.D. in Special Education and has expertise in both Universal Design for Learning and Dyslexia.

As their degrees and CVs highlight, faculty, collectively, brought extensive knowledge and expertise of literacy development and the various elements of TPE 7. 

Describe how the institution/program has provided opportunities for faculty teaching these courses to engage in professional learning to ensure that they are prepared to teach new content as required by SB 488, the standards, and the performance expectations. If none has been provided to date, provide information about the implementation plan for specific professional development and learning that will take place. 

On September 13, 2024, a professional development day was held for all Multiple Subject and Education Specialist faculty and coaches to ensure they had an understanding of the elements of TPE 7. 

The day included the following workshops:

What steps has the program taken or will take in the coming months to communicate to mentor/cooperating teachers and other PK-12 partners the new requirements of SB 488, the new literacy instruction program standards, TPEs, and upcoming performance assessment requirements? (meetings, notifications, handbook updates, etc.)

The Fresno State Teacher Education Program is planning a Mentor Teacher Conference for Saturday, November 2, 2024. All Mentor Teachers supporting candidates in the Multiple Subject and Education Specialist programs will be invited to attend. Planned content for the day includes sessions led by Fresno State Teacher Education faculty that align with the elements of TPE 7, including Foundational Skills, Meaning Making, the ELA/ELD Framework, and the CA Dyslexia Guidelines. An additional session will also provide an overview of the FAST 3.0, Fresno State’s Literacy Performance Assessment that is currently being piloted.

In what ways did the program’s process for reviewing its coursework and clinical practice requirements against the new standards and TPEs include individuals with expertise in literacy instruction for multilingual/English learner students?

Multiple Faculty with expertise in multilingual/English learner students took part in the preparation and review of coursework and clinical practice requirements. They include:

  • Dr. Nadia Hoover, Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural and Biliteracy Education
  • Dr. Lindsay Meeker, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education and 2023-2024 Interim Coordinator, Bilingual Authorization Program
  • Gladys M. Villanueva, Lecturer, Bilingual/Bicultural and Biliteracy Education

Provide links to syllabi that demonstrate that the English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy Standards, English Language Development (ELD) Standards, and English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework are required and central components for candidates in literacy instruction coursework. These links should be bookmarked to the exact place in the syllabi where this occurs. Multiple links to different sections of the same syllabus are acceptable.

Candidates within the Multiple Subject program have multiple opportunities to learn about and apply the English Language Arts and Literacy Standards, English Language Development (ELD) Standards, and English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework throughout their time in the program.

Within LEE 158: Literacy Foundations, the first literacy course candidates take, they learn about and use the ELA and ELD Standards and the ELA/ELD Framework when planning three lessons of effective literacy instruction that respond to the assessments they have administered to learners in their classroom.

Their knowledge of the ELD Standards and the ELA/ELD Framework is further expanded in LEE 159: Culturally & Linguistically Sustaining Pedagogy in TK-8. During Week 9 of this course, they learn more specifically about the ELA/ELD Framework (slideshow) and then have the opportunity to apply their learning by observing an ELA/ELD Lesson and reflecting on what elements of best-practice instruction for English Learners they saw applied. Candidates are also expected to apply their knowledge of the ELA Standards, the ELD Standards and the ELA/ELD Standards for multiple assignments in LEE 159, including:

Within LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies & Integrated Curriculum, which candidates during their second phase of the program, they are further introduced to the ELA and Literacy Standards in Week 10. They are also expected to apply their understanding of the standards, along with their understandings of the ELD Standards and ELA/ELD Framework, when designing their five-lesson disciplinary literacies project.

Part 3. Preparing Candidates to Understand and Teach Foundational Skills

Appendix C Table 3.1: Multiple Subject
Teaching Performance Expectations: Foundational Skills

Multiple Subject and Education Specialist candidates develop the knowledge and skills to teach foundational skills in LEE 158: Foundational Skills

In this course, the candidates learn 

  • what foundational skills are, 
  • how to assess foundational skills, and 
  • how to provide children instruction in foundational skills. 

Candidates take this course during their first semester in the program and are expected to apply their learning in both their clinical practice settings and when completing the first task of Fresno State’s Teaching Performance, the FAST Site Visitation Project (approved by the Commission to pilot beginning Fall 2024).

During the course, candidates engage in four inquiry cycles to research the following questions:

  • Who am I? 
  • What is literacy? (defining and understanding foundational skills
  • Who are my students? (foundational skills assessments)
  • How can I create literacy experiences for all students? (planning and implementation of foundational skills)

Who am I?

Candidates begin the course by first exploring who they are as learners and consider their own literacy development. To answer the first inquiry question, Who am I?, candidates complete the Teach Us Project, a multimodal literacy artifact connected to their background and culture. 

What is literacy?

Candidates then begin an exploration of literacy, which includes an introduction to the Simple View of Reading, Scarborough’s Rope, and the Active View of Reading. Candidates also read Duke, Ward, & Pearson’s (2021) “The Science of Reading Comprehension,” which introduces them to the concepts of phonological awareness, print awareness, phonics, and word recognition. After, candidates create their own definition of literacy that must include the major components of literacy, including foundational skills.

Who are my students?

Candidates then select a focal student and administer preliminary assessments and inventories on the student’s literacy background, cultural background, and interests

In Week Six, candidates learn about the stages of literacy development, including early literacy, knowledge of print concepts, and the stages of word recognition. They learn about how to assess students’ literacy development by administering various assessments (Narrative Comprehension Task, Concepts of print, Phonemic Awareness, Letters and sounds, Early Names Phonics Test, Spelling Inventory, and Reading Fluency) to their focal students and analyzing the results.

In Week Seven, candidates further develop their knowledge of phonics instruction through reading Ehri’s “The Science of Learning to Read Words: A Case for Systematic Phonics Instruction,” and learning different phonics-based strategies to use with students. These include Elknonin boxes, learning letters and sounds, blending sounds, word sorts, making words, and orthographic mapping, among others. Candidates are expected to determine the best strategies to use with their focal student based on the findings from their administration of the literacy-assessments and their understandings of the strategies. Candidates then write a comprehensive analysis report in which they explain what the results suggest about the student’s literacy development, including their phonemic awareness, phonics skills, comprehension abilities, and fluency.

How can I create literacy experiences for all students?

In the final culminating project, candidates administer literacy assessments with a small group of students and then develop three literacy lessons based on the results of the assessments. One of the lessons must focus on foundational skills.

3.3a. Communication/Agreement with Districts regarding Clinical Practice

3.3b. Candidate Information

***Although the FAST Manual for only the Multiple Subject program has been developed and approved for pilot, Fresno State’s Education Specialist program is in the process of developing an adapted version for use with Education Specialist candidates based on the MS version that will be submitted to the Commission for approval

3.3c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

Part 4: Program Inclusion of Literature, Language, Comprehension

4.2a. Communication/Agreement with Districts

4.2b. Candidate Information 

***Although the FAST Manual for only the Multiple Subject program has been developed and approved for pilot, Fresno State’s Education Specialist program is in the process of developing an adapted version for use with Education Specialist candidates based on the MS version that will be submitted to the Commission for approval

4.2c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

Part 5. Ensuring Candidates are Well Prepared to Understand and Implement Diagnostic and Early Intervention Techniques

5.2a. Communication/Agreement with Districts

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  • Letter to Mentor Teachers 
    • Discussion of need for opportunities to practice screening and diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and assessment and early intervention techniques (ref 1, ref 2)
  • Letter to District Partners 
    • Discussion of need for opportunities to practice screening and diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and assessment and early intervention techniques

5.2b. Candidate Information

5.2c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

5.3a. Coursework

Candidates receive an introduction to the California Dyslexia Guidelines in LEE 158: Literacy Foundations, which they take during their first semester in the program. In Week 8 of the course, they have a workshop on reading disabilities and engage in a jigsaw reading of the guidelines. Candidates are also asked to apply their learning of the guidelines when analyzing their assessments of their focal students.

Candidates further engage with the CA Dyslexia Guidelines in LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies & Integrated Curriculum and SPED 179: Differentiated Instruction & Classroom Management, both of which they take in the second half of the program. In SPED 179, they have further opportunities to explore the guidelines, connecting them with course activities designed to increase their knowledge and understanding of dyslexia. In LEE 166, candidates have opportunities to apply their understanding of the guidelines as they design a Disciplinary Literacy Unit, that includes details about how they would modify instruction for students with dyslexia.

Candidates have further opportunities to apply their learning of the Dyslexia Guidelines in their clinical practice, where they are expected to practice approaches from the guidelines and receive feedback during at least one of their formal observations, and in their completion of the FAST: Site Visitation Project, where they are expected to align their instruction with approaches outlined in the CA Dyslexia Guidelines.

5.3b. Coursework Syllabi

5.3c. Clinical Practice

Letters from the Fresno State Teacher Education Program to all Multiple Subject and Education Specialist Mentor Teachers and to all District Leaders with whom we partner to provide candidates with clinical practice opportunities that outline the expectation that candidates be given opportunities to apply their learning from the California Dyslexia Guidelines in their clinical practice settings.

Within their final phase of clinical practice, each candidate is expected to practice instructional approaches from the CA Dyslexia Guidelines during one of their formal observations. Following the observation, their Coach is expected to give them feedback on their implementation of the strategies and for the two to de-brief the instruction together. Coaches are expected to ensure that this occurs at least once during **EHD 170 (syllabus; mid/final evaluation)**

5.3d. Communication/Agreement with Districts

5.3e. Candidate Information

5.3f. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

Education Specialist

Part 2. Overview of Required Courses for Literacy Instruction and Process for Program Revisions


Program               Internal Program Review Process Process Involvement
  • Education Specialist: MM + ESN
Traditional/Residency

Although our program has multiple pathways, all MS and ES candidates take the same literacy courses: LEE 158: Literacy Foundations, LEE 159: Culturally & Linguistically Sustaining Pedagogy in K-8 Contexts, and LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies & Integrated Curriculum. Therefore, the process used to internally review alignment with the new Literacy Standards and TPEs was the same across pathways.

Process:

  • MS and ES Faculty and Coach Work Days (June 12 and August 7): 
    • Review new Literacy Standards and elements of TPE 7
    • Revise course syllabi to align with TPE 7
    • Revise Clinical Practice Evaluation to include elements of TPE 7
  • Revised syllabi and evaluations were submitted and evaluated by lead faculty
  • Dr. Juliet Wahleithner, Director, Educator Preparation & Accreditation, & Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Oversaw and facilitated process
  • Dr. Monica Billen, Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Lead faculty for LEE 158
    • Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on Literacy Foundations and Meaning Making
  • Dr. Steven Hart, Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Lead faculty for LEE 166
    • Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on Literacy Foundations and Meaning Making
  • Dr. Lindsay Meeker, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
  • Dr. Nadia Hoover, Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural and Biliteracy Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
    • Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on ELD Standards and ELA/ELD Framework
  • Suzie Brandl, FAST Coordinator & Lecturer, Multiple Subject
    • Oversaw clinical practice evaluation revision
  • Gladys Villanueva, Lecturer, Multicultural/Multilingual Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
  • Dr. Kimberly Coy, Associate Professor, Special Education
    • Professional Development for Faculty on Dyslexia and Dyslexia Guidelines
  • Education Specialist Dual: MS + MM + ESN
Traditional/Residency

Although our program has multiple pathways, all MS and ES candidates take the same literacy courses: LEE 158: Literacy Foundations, LEE 159: Culturally & Linguistically Sustaining Pedagogy in K-8 Contexts, and LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies & Integrated Curriculum. Therefore, the process used to internally review alignment with the new Literacy Standards and TPEs was the same across pathways.

Process:

  • MS and ES Faculty and Coach Work Days (June 12 and August 7): 
    • Review new Literacy Standards and elements of TPE 7
    • Revise course syllabi to align with TPE 7
    • Revise Clinical Practice Evaluation to include elements of TPE 7
  • Revised syllabi and evaluations were submitted and evaluated by lead faculty
  • Dr. Juliet Wahleithner, Director, Educator Preparation & Accreditation, & Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Oversaw and facilitated process
  • Dr. Monica Billen, Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Lead faculty for LEE 158
    • Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on Literacy Foundations and Meaning Making
  • Dr. Steven Hart, Associate Professor, Literacy Education
    • Lead faculty for LEE 166
    • Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on Literacy Foundations and Meaning Making
  • Dr. Lindsay Meeker, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
  • Dr. Nadia Hoover, Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural and Biliteracy Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
      Professional Development for Faculty and Coaches on ELD Standards and ELA/ELD Framework
  • Suzie Brandl, FAST Coordinator & Lecturer, Multiple Subject
    • Oversaw clinical practice evaluation revision
  • Gladys Villanueva, Lecturer, Multicultural/Multilingual Education
    • Co-Lead faculty for LEE 159
  • Dr. Kimberly Coy, Associate Professor, Special Education
    • Professional Development for Faculty on Dyslexia and Dyslexia Guidelines

Describe how the program has ensured that faculty teaching the literacy instruction courses understand the requirements in SB 488, the new standards and TPEs, and the evidence base supporting them. If this response differs by pathway, please respond for each pathway.

All Education Specialist and Multiple Subject faculty were invited to attend two faculty work days, held June 12, 2024 and August 7, 2024. Each day provided an overview of SB 488 and its specific requirements, along with overviews of the new Literacy Standards and TPEs. In particular, each day reviewed the required updates to specific elements of the program (MOUs, clinical practice evaluations, coursework, assessments) as well as an overview of the specific elements of TPE 7.

Candidates in both the Education Specialist and Multiple Subject programs take the same three literacy-focused courses. The faculty responsible for revising the literacy-focused syllabi to align with TPE 7 are all experts in literacy education and supporting multilingual students:

  • Dr. Monica Billen, who oversaw the revisions of the master syllabus for LEE 158: Literacy Foundations, holds a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Literacy Studies and an emphasis in Reading Education.
  • Dr. Steve Hart, who oversaw the revisions of the master syllabus for LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies and Integrated Curriculum, holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Reading Education.
  • Dr. Jill Bonds, who supported the development of the master syllabus for LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies and Integrated Curriculum, holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, with research that has focused on second language writers’ academic writing. She also holds a TESOL/TEFL Certificate.
  • Gladys M. Villanueva, who oversaw the revisions of the master syllabus for LEE 159: Culturally & Linguistically, holds an MA in Education, Multilingual Multicultural Education Option.
  • Dr. Lindsay Meeker, who supported the revisions of multiple courses, holds an Ed.D. in Early Childhood and an M.S. in Bilingual and Multicultural Education.

As their degrees and CVs highlight, faculty, collectively, brought extensive knowledge and expertise of literacy development and the various elements of TPE 7. 

For courses exclusive to the Education Specialist program, faculty from the program drew on their expertise as Special Education researchers and practitioners to make necessary course revisions.

Although courses within the Teacher Education programs are also taught by part-time faculty members, the program expectation is that the approved master syllabi will be taught. Additionally, prior to the Fall 2024 semester, all faculty were informed that courses must now demonstrate alignment with TPE 7.

Describe how the institution/program has provided opportunities for faculty teaching these courses to engage in professional learning to ensure that they are prepared to teach new content as required by SB 488, the standards, and the performance expectations. If none has been provided to date, provide information about the implementation plan for specific professional development and learning that will take place. 

On September 13, 2024, a professional development day was held for all Multiple Subject and Education Specialist faculty and coaches to ensure they had an understanding of the elements of TPE 7. 

The day included the following workshops:

What steps has the program taken or will take in the coming months to communicate to mentor/cooperating teachers and other PK-12 partners the new requirements of SB 488, the new literacy instruction program standards, TPEs, and upcoming performance assessment requirements? (meetings, notifications, handbook updates, etc.)

The Fresno State Teacher Education Program is planning a Mentor Teacher Conference for Saturday, November 2, 2024. All Mentor Teachers supporting candidates in the Multiple Subject and Education Specialist programs will be invited to attend. Planned content for the day includes sessions led by Fresno State Teacher Education faculty that align with the elements of TPE 7, including Foundational Skills, Meaning Making, the ELA/ELD Framework, and the CA Dyslexia Guidelines. 

An additional session will also provide an overview of the FAST 3.0, Fresno State’s Literacy Performance Assessment that is currently being piloted with Multiple Subjects candidates.

In what ways did the program’s process for reviewing its coursework and clinical practice requirements against the new standards and TPEs include individuals with expertise in literacy instruction for multilingual/English learner students?

Multiple Faculty with expertise in multilingual/English learner students took part in the preparation and review of coursework and clinical practice requirements. They include:

  • Dr. Nadia Hoover, Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural and Biliteracy Education
  • Dr. Lindsay Meeker, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education and 2023-2024 Interim Coordinator, Bilingual Authorization Program
  • Gladys Villanueva, Lecturer, Bilingual/Bicultural and Biliteracy Education

Provide links to syllabi that demonstrate that the English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy Standards, English Language Development (ELD) Standards, and English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework are required and central components for candidates in literacy instruction coursework. These links should be bookmarked to the exact place in the syllabi where this occurs. Multiple links to different sections of the same syllabus are acceptable.

Candidates within the Education Specialist program have multiple opportunities to learn about and apply the English Language Arts and Literacy Standards, English Language Development (ELD) Standards, and English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework throughout their time in the program.

Within LEE 158: Literacy Foundations, the first literacy course candidates take, they learn about and use the ELA and ELD Standards and the ELA/ELD Framework when planning three lessons of effective literacy instruction that respond to the assessments they have administered to learners in their classroom.

Their knowledge of the ELD Standards and the ELA/ELD Framework is further expanded in LEE 159: Culturally & Linguistically Sustaining Pedagogy in TK-8. During Week 9 of this course, they learn more specifically about the ELA/ELD Framework (slideshow) and then have the opportunity to apply their learning by observing an ELA/ELD Lesson and reflecting on what elements of best-practice instruction for English Learners they saw applied. Candidates are also expected to apply their knowledge of the ELA Standards, the ELD Standards and the ELA/ELD Standards for multiple assignments in LEE 159, including:

Within LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies & Integrated Curriculum, which candidates during their second phase of the program, they are further introduced to the ELA and Literacy Standards in Week 10. They are also expected to apply their understanding of the standards, along with their understandings of the ELD Standards and ELA/ELD Framework, when designing their five-lesson disciplinary literacies project.

Part 3. Preparing Candidates to Understand and Teach Foundational Skills

Appendix C Table 3.1: Education Specialist Mild to Moderate and Extensive Support Needs
Teaching Performance Expectations: Foundational Skills

Multiple Subject and Education Specialist candidates develop the knowledge and skills to teach foundational skills in LEE 158: Foundational Skills

In this course, the candidates learn 

  • what foundational skills are, 
  • how to assess foundational skills, and 
  • how to provide children instruction in foundational skills. 

Candidates take this course during their first semester in the program and are expected to apply their learning in both their clinical practice settings and when completing the first task of Fresno State’s Teaching Performance, the FAST Site Visitation Project (approved by the Commission to pilot beginning Fall 2024).

During the course, candidates engage in four inquiry cycles to research the following questions:

  • Who am I? 
  • What is literacy? (defining and understanding foundational skills
  • Who are my students? (foundational skills assessments)
  • How can I create literacy experiences for all students? (planning and implementation of foundational skills)

Who am I?

Candidates begin the course by first exploring who they are as learners and consider their own literacy development. To answer the first inquiry question, Who am I?, candidates complete the Teach Us Project, a multimodal literacy artifact connected to their background and culture. 

What is literacy?

Candidates then begin an exploration of literacy, which includes an introduction to the Simple View of Reading, Scarborough’s Rope, and the Active View of Reading. Candidates also read Duke, Ward, & Pearson’s (2021) “The Science of Reading Comprehension,” which introduces them to the concepts of phonological awareness, print awareness, phonics, and word recognition. After, candidates create their own definition of literacy that must include the major components of literacy, including foundational skills.

Who are my students?

Candidates then select a focal student and administer preliminary assessments and inventories on the student’s literacy background, cultural background, and interests

In Week Six, candidates learn about the stages of literacy development, including early literacy, knowledge of print concepts, and the stages of word recognition. They learn about how to assess students’ literacy development by administering various assessments (Narrative Comprehension Task, Concepts of print, Phonemic Awareness, Letters and sounds, Early Names Phonics Test, Spelling Inventory, and Reading Fluency) to their focal students and analyzing the results.

In Week Seven, candidates further develop their knowledge of phonics instruction through reading Ehri’s “The Science of Learning to Read Words: A Case for Systematic Phonics Instruction,” and learning different phonics-based strategies to use with students. These include Elknonin boxes, learning letters and sounds, blending sounds, word sorts, making words, and orthographic mapping, among others. Candidates are expected to determine the best strategies to use with their focal student based on the findings from their administration of the literacy-assessments and their understandings of the strategies. Candidates then write a comprehensive analysis report in which they explain what the results suggest about the student’s literacy development, including their phonemic awareness, phonics skills, comprehension abilities, and fluency.

How can I create literacy experiences for all students?

In the final culminating project, candidates administer literacy assessments with a small group of students and then develop three literacy lessons based on the results of the assessments. One of the lessons must focus on foundational skills.

3.3a. Communication/Agreement with Districts regarding Clinical Practice

3.3b. Candidate Information

***Although the FAST Manual for only the Multiple Subject program has been developed and approved for pilot, Fresno State’s Education Specialist program is in the process of developing an adapted version for use with Education Specialist candidates based on the MS version that will be submitted to the Commission for approval

3.3c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

Part 4: Program Inclusion of Literature, Language, Comprehension

Appendix C Table 4.1: Education Specialist Mild to Moderate and Extensive Support Needs
Strong Literature, Language, and Comprehensive Component with a Balance of Oral and Written Language

4.2a. Communication/Agreement with Districts

4.2b. Candidate Information 

***Although the FAST Manual for only the Multiple Subject program has been developed and approved for pilot, Fresno State’s Education Specialist program is in the process of developing an adapted version for use with Education Specialist candidates based on the MS version that will be submitted to the Commission for approval

4.2c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

Part 5. Ensuring Candidates are Well Prepared to Understand and Implement Diagnostic and Early Intervention Techniques

Appendix C Table 5.1: Education Specialist Mild to Moderate and Extensive Support Needs
Ongoing diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and assessment, early intervention techniques

5.2a. Communication/Agreement with Districts

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  • Letter to Mentor Teachers 
    • Discussion of need for opportunities to practice screening and diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and assessment and early intervention techniques (ref 1, ref 2)
  • Letter to District Partners 
    • Discussion of need for opportunities to practice screening and diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and assessment and early intervention techniques

5.2b. Candidate Information

5.2c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

5.3a. Coursework

Candidates receive an introduction to the California Dyslexia Guidelines in LEE 158: Literacy Foundations, which they take during their first semester in the program. In Week 8 of the course, they have a workshop on reading disabilities and engage in a jigsaw reading of the guidelines. Candidates are also asked to apply their learning of the guidelines when analyzing their assessments of their focal students.

Candidates further engage with the CA Dyslexia Guidelines in LEE 166: Disciplinary Literacies & Integrated Curriculum and SPED 130: Assessing Students with Special Needs, both of which they take in the second half of the program. In SPED 130, they have further opportunities to explore the guidelines, connecting them with course activities designed to increase their knowledge and understanding of dyslexia. In LEE 166, candidates have opportunities to apply their understanding of the guidelines as they design a Disciplinary Literacy Unit, that includes details about how they would modify instruction for students with dyslexia.

Candidates have further opportunities to apply their learning of the Dyslexia Guidelines in their clinical practice, where they are expected to practice approaches from the guidelines and receive feedback during at least one of their formal observations, and in their completion of the FAST: Site Visitation Project, where they are expected to align their instruction with approaches outlined in the CA Dyslexia Guidelines.

5.3b. Coursework Syllabi

5.3c. Clinical Practice

Letters from the Fresno State Teacher Education Program to all Multiple Subject and Education Specialist Mentor Teachers and to all District Leaders with whom we partner to provide candidates with clinical practice opportunities that outline the expectation that candidates be given opportunities to apply their learning from the California Dyslexia Guidelines in their clinical practice settings.

Within their final phase of clinical practice, each candidate is expected to practice instructional approaches from the CA Dyslexia Guidelines during one of their formal observations. Following the observation, their Coach is expected to give them feedback on their implementation of the strategies and for the two to de-brief the instruction together. Coaches are expected to ensure that this occurs at least once during **EHD 170 (syllabus; mid/final evaluation)**

5.3d. Communication/Agreement with Districts

5.3e. Candidate Information

5.3f. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

Deaf Education

Part 2. Overview of Required Courses for Literacy Instruction and Process for Program Revisions

Program Required courses where the primary focus is literacy instruction Required courses where literacy standard 7 and TPE 7 are covered but are not the primary focus of the course
Deaf Education

Program Internal Program Review Process Process Involvement
Deaf Education
  • Participation in Fresno State Teacher Ed Literacy Work days
  • Consultation with Deaf Ed professionals in the field–CA School for the Deaf, Fremont and Riverside, and local mainstream settings
  • Meeting with Deaf Education credential program
  • Dr. Janice Smith-Warshaw, Fresno State Deaf Education Coordinator
  • Dr. Juliet Wahleithner, Fresno State Director of Educator Preparation Programs & Accreditation
  • Dr. Serena Johnson, Tenured Faculty
  • Dr. Chantel Cox, Adjunct Faculty
  • Dr. Sean Virnig, Adjunct Faculty
  • Adele Eberwein, Adjunct Faculty
  • Antonina Cardinelli, Adjunct Faculty
  • Dr. Steven Skelton, CSDS Department Chair
  • Dr. Kara Zografos, CHHS Interim Dean

Describe how the program has ensured that faculty teaching the literacy instruction courses understand the requirements in SB 488, the new standards and TPEs, and the evidence base supporting them. If this response differs by pathway, please respond for each pathway.

  • Dr. Juliet Wahleitner presented to Deaf Education faculty about CTC requirements and Teacher Performance Expectations Standard 7.
  • Dr. Janice Smith-Warshaw consulted with each Deaf Education faculty.

Describe how the institution/program has provided opportunities for faculty teaching these courses to engage in professional learning to ensure that they are prepared to teach new content as required by SB 488, the standards, and the performance expectations. If none has been provided to date, provide information about the implementation plan for specific professional development and learning that will take place. 

What steps has the program taken or will take in the coming months to communicate to mentor/cooperating teachers and other PK-12 partners the new requirements of SB 488, the new literacy instruction program standards, TPEs, and upcoming performance assessment requirements? (meetings, notifications, handbook updates, etc.)

  • Dr. Janice Smith-Warshaw receives a copy of the modified MOU from Mr. Chris Cooper, Fresno State Kremen School, Office of Clinical Practice.
  • During the Fresno State Mentor Teacher Conference, scheduled for November 2, 2024, Dr. Janice Smith-Warshaw will update Mentor Teachers and provide a copy of the DHH Credential Handbook, including the new literacy instruction program standards.

In what ways did the program’s process for reviewing its coursework and clinical practice requirements against the new standards and TPEs include individuals with expertise in literacy instruction for multilingual/English learner students?

  • The primary course instructor, Adele Eberwein, has expertise in literacy instruction. The background knowledge is shown in her CV.

Provide links to syllabi that demonstrate that the English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy Standards, English Language Development (ELD) Standards, and English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework are required and central components for candidates in literacy instruction coursework. These links should be bookmarked to the exact place in the syllabi where this occurs. Multiple links to different sections of the same syllabus are acceptable.

CSDS 262

CSDS 272

CSDS 273

Part 3. Preparing Candidates to Understand and Teach Foundational Skills

Appendix F Table 3.1: Preliminary Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Teaching Performance Expectations: Foundational Skills

The assignment addresses Standard 7a in CSDS 262, which guides teacher candidates on how to teach DHH children’s reading skills. The study was developed by Gallaudet University’s Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2). 

The Read Aloud Project assignment/rubric addresses Standard 7 in CSDS 201, which teaches teacher candidates how to support DHH students’ read-aloud skills. 

The content-based lesson plans in CSDS 272 address Standard 7, ELA/ELD Standards, and K-12 ASL Content Standards, which guides teacher candidates to learn the foundation skills. 

The final project - thematic unit in CSDS 273 addresses Standard 7, ELA/ELD Standards, CCSS Standards, and K12 ASL Content Standards, which promotes teacher candidates to learn how to develop thematic units with comprehensive standards.

3.3a. Communication/Agreement with Districts regarding Clinical Practice

3.3b. Candidate Information

Communicative Sciences and Deaf Studies (CSDS) Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Credential Handbook was updated as follows:

  1. Updated the administration team on (Page 4); 
  2. Added a new standard, TPE 7 Effective Literacy Instruction for Deaf Students (Page 26), following CTC's Literacy Standard and Teaching Performance Expectations for Preliminary Education Specialist Credentials: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (April 2023); 
  3. Added CalTPA LPA and Math Field Tests for teacher candidates to pass in 2024-2025 (page 23); and 
  4. Inserted K-12 ASL Content Standards with a link (Page 30)

3.3c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

Clinical Practice Evaluation

Part 4: Program Inclusion of Literature, Language, Comprehension

Appendix F Table 4.1: Preliminary Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Strong Literature, Language, and Comprehensive Component with a Balance of Oral and Written Language

4.2a. Communication/Agreement with Districts

4.2b. Candidate Information

CSDS DHH Credential Handbook was updated as follows:

4.2c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

Teacher candidates’ Student Teaching and Intern Practice:

Each candidate will receive formative feedback to improve their teaching strategies during the midterm meeting (on the 8th week of teaching): CSDS 258-268 Midterm Evaluation Form (included TPE 7) 

  • See Subject-Specific Pedagogy (7.8, 7.9) (page 3)
  • See Addressing Needs of All Students (7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.10) (page 4)

Each candidate will receive summative feedback to address their teaching strengths and areas of improvement during the final meeting (on the 16th week of teaching): CSDS 258-268 Final Evaluation Form (included TPE 7)

  • See Subject-Specific Pedagogy (7.8. 7.9) (page 3)
  • See Addressing Needs of All Students (7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.10) (page 4)

Part 5. Ensuring Candidates are Well Prepared to Understand and Implement Diagnostic and Early Intervention Techniques

Appendix F Table 5.1: Preliminary Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Ongoing diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and assessment, early intervention techniques

5.2a. Communication/Agreement with Districts

5.2b. Candidate Information

CSDS DHH Credential Handbook:

5.2c. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities

5.3a. Coursework

Our teacher candidates will read the California Dyslexia Guidelines in CSDS 271 course. They will read an article in CSDS 273 Curriculum and Instruction course about Dyslexia and Related Disorders at Texas School for the Deaf

5.3b. Coursework Syllabi

5.3c. Clinical Practice

Letter from the Fresno State Teacher Education Program to all DHH Education Specialist Mentor Teachers and to all District Leaders with whom we partner to provide candidates with clinical practice opportunities that outline the expectation that candidates be given opportunities to apply their learning from the California Dyslexia Guidelines in their clinical practice settings.

5.3d. Communication/Agreement with Districts

5.3e. Candidate Information

5.3f. Candidate Clinical Practice Opportunities