Internship-Reading Specialist – EDRS 699

Course Description

This course serves as the culminating field experience internship for the Reading Specialist candidate. The course requires the completion of class assignments, field-based projects, and the minimum number of hours served as specified in the proposal. An overall performance assessment is provided to gauge the candidate’s effectiveness and document the successful completion of the internship.

Rationale

It is imperative for every school to have educators who are prepared to provide leadership and teacher coaching as reading specialists. Assisting teachers in the assessment and instructional planning for preK-12 students in these program areas requires specialized training. “And the things you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (II Timothy 2:2, NKJV).

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. (CLO: A)

Discussions (5)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences; therefore, the candidate will write and post a new thread answering question(s) posed by the instructor. Four of the Discussions require a minimum of 500 words. (CLO: A, B, E, F)

Intern Information Form Assignment

The candidate will fill out and submit a form available from Liberty University’s website with information about his/her internship. (CLO: A)

Professional Development Workshop Assignments (4)

The candidate will complete the project by researching, planning, reflecting upon, and implementing professional development at his/her school site in whichever specialty the candidate is operating. The Professional Development Workshop will be completed in 4 phases. Writing should adhere to APA guidelines.

Research Plan Assignment

The candidate will interview one administrator and one teacher at the school and review the school's current professional development plan. The candidate will then plan a professional development workshop on a topic related to his or her area of specialization, including a 500-word justification for why the topic was selected.

Professional Development Presentation Assignment

The candidate will create a 20-25 slide PowerPoint presentation designed to meet one of the perceived professional development needs of the school. He or she will present the workshop at the school site.

Teacher Coaching Assignment

The candidate will conduct a follow-up study session to the professional development workshop for interested teachers. The study session must be at least 30 minutes. The candidate will also assist at least one novice teacher in creating a lesson using the new topic/strategy that was modeled in the workshop.

Reflection Assignment

The candidate will write a 500-word reflection on the professional development workshop.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H)

Case Study Assignments (4)

The candidate will plan and implement case studies with two K–12th grade students in his/her program. Specific instructions and requirements will depend upon the candidate’s chosen specialty. There are six parts to each case study—pre-assessment, teacher collaboration, instruction, post-assessment, communicating assessment results, and case study report—which will be completed over the course of four assignment submissions. For each part, candidates should refer to the relevant portions of the Case Study Packet.

Advanced Internship Assessment (AIA) Assignments (3)

There are three parts to this culminating assignment for the internship: mentor assessment, candidate justification, and supervisor evaluation. The mentor will complete both the Mid-Term and Final Advanced Internship Assessment (AIA) in CORE. The candidate will justify his/her performance during the internship using the standards for math or literacy and upload a screenshot of his/her justification in the Quiz: Advanced Internship Assessment (AIA): Final Internship Assessment in Canvas, which has no time limit and allows 1 attempt. A template is provided for the candidate to use in the justification. Finally, the supervisor will evaluate the candidate’s performance during the internship. The directions, rubric, and template for the Final Internship Assessment are available in CORE. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

Professional Portfolio Assignment

The candidate will complete his/her portfolio using the template provided in CORE. Separate templates will be provided for each of the two program specialties. Throughout the internship, the candidate will continuously build the portfolio. (CLO: A, B)

Field Experience Summary (FES) Assignment

The candidate will list in a log the field experiences he/she has completed in his/her endorsement area of Program Specialists since he/she has been enrolled in the licensure program at Liberty University. The candidate will also complete the rubric to indicate field experience competencies have been met. This assignment will be uploaded into the Professional Portfolio in CORE. (CLO: A, B, F)

Quiz: Program Completer Contact Survey

The candidate will complete a survey and then confirm the survey completion by answering one multiple-choice quiz question. The quiz will have a 1-hour time limit and allow 1 attempt.