Reading Online Program - M.Ed.

This new online master’s program is for the classroom teacher who holds elementary, secondary, or special education certification, and who desires to improve his/her reading instruction and literacy leadership. Based on current research, best practices, and state and national standards, the program will equip K-12 teachers to do the following:

Plan and implement instruction, beginning with pre-reading skills through advanced comprehension, to assist diverse learners in achieving competence in English literacy.
Use data from multi-faceted assessments to impact student achievement.
Evaluate and use published research and results from action research to inform instruction.
Be a resource and instructional leader in their individual schools and districts.

Completion of this program qualifies the candidate for a K-12 Idaho Reading Endorsement.

Instructional Philosophy

Teaching and learning best occur when:

Planning and organization are focused and expectations are clearly met through purposeful activities.
Learners are provided with a wide range of challenging, relevant activities.
A collaborative learning environment allows for constructive, positive, and purposeful feedback and respect for differing opinions.

Instructional Delivery

The program will utilize the Blackboard online delivery technology to provide access for all Idaho K-12 teachers. The online course, which is the delivery method for all courses offered through the program, is based on a cohort model in which learners and an instructor interact in an asynchronous course setting. All users do not have to be online at the same time, but may complete and submit assignments and engage in discussion as outlined in the course description and syllabus as their schedules permit.

Summer Residencies

In addition to the online courses, candidates will participate in three 1-credit online summer residencies during each of three summers.

Goals of these online summer residencies include the following:

Provide orientation and resources to help participants in accomplishing their goals and meeting program requirements in this online program.
Develop a sense of community among cohort members and NNU faculty members. It will be essential for participants to make connections with this community of learners who will be your support system throughout the program.
Celebrate and share professional accomplishments.
Assessment Components
Electronic portfolio
Research project and paper
Presentation of portfolio and research

Online supervised practicum in final semester

A significant expectation of this program is the candidate’s identification and research of a classroom-based question about developing reading proficiency in children. The proposal for this action research project will be completed during Research Theory and Application for the Educator. Support will be provided during the Research Seminar during the data collection and implementation of the study. Candidates will present their action research projects during the final online summer residency. During this culminating residency, candidates will also present their electronic portfolios. Then after completion of all coursework, candidates will implement research-based interventions with struggling readers through the completion of a practicum in their own schools. During the practicum, a coach/mentor will provide online supervision and emailed support.

Accreditation

The Department of Education at NNU offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees for the preparation of educators. These programs maintain voluntary national accreditation through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and are approved by the State of Idaho.

Program Requirements (2009-10)

Total credits – 35 semester credits
$415 per credit

+ Application Fee ($25)
+ Books ($1,700 est.)
+ Electronic Portfolio ($98 est.)

Includes 3 required 1-credit online summer residency experiences
Includes 3-credit supervised practicum at one’s own school during final semester
Program length – 28 months

Program Alignment

Idaho Standards for Reading Teachers
International Reading Association Standards for Reading Professionals
Conceptual Framework for NNU Education Programs
NNU’s Institutional Outcomes

Other Strong Program Influences

Every Child Reading: A Professional Development Guide
National Reading Panel Recommendations
The Open Book Initiative of the J. A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation
Reading First Legislation
Best practices for working with English Language Learners (ELL)

Learner Handbook

An online Learner Handbook will be provided to participants to serve as a "how-to" resource for successfully completing this program. This handbook will clarify program requirements and expectations, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

Cohort Composition

The program was designed to be available to participants from various regions of the state of Idaho and throughout the United States and even world. The admissions process will include consideration by the Graduate Education Committee about the ideal cohort composition of both local and statewide participants.

Required Courses

Online or On-campus Summer Residency: Program Orientation (1)
The Learning Process (3)
Brain Research and Reading: How We Learn, How to Teach (3)
Teaching and Assessing Early Reading and Spelling (3)
Statistical Applications for Educators (2)
Effective Classroom Instruction for English Language Learners (3)
Online or On-campus Summer Residency: Accessing Online Resources and Developing Electronic Portfolios (1)
Research for Educators (3)
Seminar: Action Research and Electronic Portfolio (1)
Reading for Meaning: Fluency, Vocabulary, & Comprehension (3)
Seminar: Action Research and Electronic Portfolio (1)
Teaching & Assessing Reading and Writing: Secondary & Intermediate (3)
Seminar: Action Research and Electronic Portfolio (1)
The Literacy-Focused School (3)
Online or On-campus Summer Residency: Presenting Electronic Portfolios and Action Research Results (1)
Supervised Practicum (3)

Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid for students who are U.S. Citizens is available for online degrees. You must complete both the FAFSA and the NNU Financial Aid Form.

Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) Form

Northwest Nazarene University Financial Aid

Program contact information:
Dr. Lynette Hill, Director
208-467-8802

Nancy Gibson, Secretary
208-467-8366

Graduate Program Toll-Free Number: 877-668-4723 X3

NCATE Accreditation

Northwest Nazarene University has maintained continuous accreditation through the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1967. The last NCATE visit was hosted Spring 2006. Continuing Accreditation was granted through Spring 2013.