Atlanta Campus Catalog 2011-2012 - Mercer University

language development that provide the bases for literacy learning. A major focus of thiscourse is learning to teach all children to read and write: children who read and write easily,those who experience difficulty in learning, and those for whom English is not their firstlanguage. Topics include language development, emergent literacy, assessment,approaches to teaching language and literacy, and organizational approaches for preschool,kindergarten, first, and second grade classes. This course is prerequisite toEMAT 635 Language and Literacy II.EMAT 635 ECE Language and Literacy II(3 hours)Prerequisite: EMAT 634This course is the second of two required literacy courses for Early Childhood majors. Itwill build on and extend the theory and knowledge acquired in Language and Literacy I,focusing on continuing reading and writing instruction for all learners in grades 3 - 5.Topics include language and vocabulary growth, assessment, methods of teaching, andorganizational approaches for older elementary readers. Reading and writing to learnwill be an important component of this course.EMAT 641. Teaching Reading: Literacy Development(3 hours)for ECEThis course will be a comprehensive study of major factors in teaching literacy fromemerging readers through the fluency stage. A careful study of the reading process,along with appropriate strategies for teaching at various stages of development will bestressed.EMAT 642. Content Area Reading & Writing:(3 hours)Literacy Development for MGE/SECThis course will focus on the development, use, and evaluation of language, concepts(specialized vocabulary), and critical thinking while reading text and writing to enhancelearning. Attention will be given to the use of metacognitive strategies, including visualtools, so that all students can become engaged and active literacy learners.EMAT 643. Teaching Language Arts through Writing(3 hours)in ECEThis course will extend and strengthen the knowledge of elementary teachers in developingstrategies for teaching language as an integrative process. Attention will be givento assessing and adjusting instruction to meet the needs of all students including thosewith exceptionalities, disabilities, and cultures different from that of the norm.EMAT 644. Teaching Language Arts through Writing(3 hours)in MGEThis course will extend and strengthen the knowledge of middle grades teachers inexamining research and problems and developing strategies for teaching language asan integrative process. Attention will be given to assessing and adjusting instruction tomeet the needs of all students, including those with exceptionalities, disabilities, andcultural diversities.EMAT 645. Teaching English(3 hours)This course focuses on a study of how to teach English in secondary schools. Its perspectiveis student-centered, constructivist, developmental, inquiry based, and reflective. Thecourse includes investigation of crucial issues such as: constructivist principles of learning,approaches to teaching grammar and writing, approaches to teaching literature, portfolios,censorship. Attention will be given to means of assessments, including authentic assessmentand to state and national standards for the English/Language Arts guide for improvedpedagogy.234 / MERCER UNIVERSITY