Fort Lewis College (Colorado)

At Fort Lewis College, we have had a long-standing commitment to preparing teachers who have a nuanced understanding of research-based reading instruction and are prepared to enter classrooms as strong literacy teachers. Our program creates teachers who understand their students and communities, and know how to design effective reading instruction in ways that draws upon students' cultural and linguistic assets, as well as their individual needs as learners.

Our literacy course sequence is designed to provide students with strong foundational knowledge of language and literacy. The focus on reading begins with a linguistic overview and a developmental perspective grounded in early language and literacy concepts.

A recent addition to the literacy scope and sequence is a new course titled Teaching Reading K-3, a course focused on methods for designing and delivering effective research-based reading instruction. In the course, teacher candidates learn how to design instruction, teach, and assess phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, and reading fluency including oral skills, and reading comprehension using pedagogically-sound, research- based techniques. Candidates apply their understanding of course concepts through intensive field-based practicum experiences in elementary schools around the Four Corners, including rural and Tribal communities. These practicum experiences support teacher candidates to develop deeper understandings of effective reading instruction for diverse populations of students as they implement and apply knowledge through course assignments with the support and feedback from the course instructor and mentor teachers in the field.

Dr. Jenny Trujillo
Dean, School of Education
Fort Lewis College