Standards for Reading Professionals

Competencies for 316 and 317 candidates at UW-Eau Claire

Standard 1:
FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Candidates have knowledge of the foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction.
Element
316: Reading Teacher
1.1) Demonstrate knowledge of
Know foundational theories related to practices and
psychological, sociological, and
materials they use in teaching reading. (CT)
linguistic foundations of reading
and writing processes
1.2) Demonstrate knowledge of
Recognize historical antecedents to contemporary
reading research and histories of
reading methods and materials. Articulate how their
reading.
teaching practice relates to reading research.(CT)
1.3) Demonstrate knowledge of
language development and
reading acquisition and the
variations related to cultural and
linguistic diversity.
1.4) Demonstrate knowledge of
the major components of reading
(phonemic awareness, word
identification and phonics,
vocabulary and background
knowledge, fluency,
comprehension strategies, and
motivation) and how they are
integrated in fluent reading.

Can articulate developmental aspects and describe

when students are meeting the benchmarks of oral
language and its relationship to reading/writing to
include variations related to cultural and linguistic
diversity. (P + CT)
Explain how the components (phonemic awareness,
word identification and phonics, vocabulary and
background knowledge, fluency, comprehension
strategies, and motivation) are integrated during
fluent reading. Can identify theories that ground
their practice as well as students strengths and
weaknesses in relation to the various components.
(CT)

317: Reading Specialist

Explain, compare, contrast, and critique major theories
in reading. (RS)
Summarize historical and seminal reading studies and
articulate how these studies impacted reading
instruction.(RS)
Identify, explain, compare, and contrast the theories and
research in the areas of language development and
learning to read.
(RS)
Are able to determine if students are appropriately
integrating the components of phonemic awareness,
word identification and phonics, vocabulary and
background knowledge, fluency, comprehension
strategies, and motivation in fluent reading.
(RS)

Note: In the above table, P=paraprofessional, CT=classroom teacher, RS=reading specialist, A=administrator, as indicators of where the competencies for the
UW-EC 316 and 317 license reside within the national standards. See: http://www.reading.org/resources/issues/reports/professional_standards.html

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Standard 2:
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES AND CURRICULUM MATERIALS
Candidates use a wide range of instructional practices, approaches, methods, and curriculum materials to support reading and writing instruction.
2.1) Use instructional grouping
Support and help classroom teachers and
Evaluate, support, and coach teachers use of
options (individual, small-group,
paraprofessionals in their use of instructional
instructional grouping options for specific purposes
whole-class, and computer
grouping options, explaining evidence-based
based on appropriateness for those purposes and for
based) as appropriate for
rationale for changing configurations to best meet
accommodating cultural and linguistic differences
accomplishing given purposes.
2.2) Use a wide range of
instructional practices,
approaches, and methods,
including technology-based
practices, for learners at
differing stages of development
and from differing cultural and
linguistic backgrounds.
2.3) Use a wide range of
curriculum materials in effective
reading instruction for learners
at different stages of reading and
writing development and from
different cultural and linguistic
backgrounds.

the needs of all students.(CT)

Demonstrate use of a range of instructional practices
approaches, and methods, including technologybased practices as they assist teachers in choosing
practices to best meet the needs of all students. (RS)

among their students. (A)

Evaluate, support, and coach teachers use of a wide
range of evidence-based instructional practices,
approaches, and methods, including technology-based
practices for specific purposes based on appropriateness
for those purposes and for accommodating cultural and
linguistic differences among their students. (A)

Support classroom teachers and paraprofessionals in

the use of a wide range of curriculum materials.
They help teachers select appropriate options and
explain the evidence base for selecting practices to
best meet the needs of all students They demonstrate
the options in their own teaching in demonstration
teaching. (RS)

Evaluate, support, and coach teachers evidence-based

use of a wide range of curriculum materials for specific
purposes based on their appropriateness for those
purposes and for accommodating developmental,
cultural, and linguistic differences among their students.
(A)

Standard 3:
ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, AND EVALUATION
Candidates use a variety of assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading instruction.
3.1) Use a wide range of
Compare and contrast, use, interpret, and
Understand the role of assessment in the delivery of
assessment tools and practices
recommend a wide range of assessment tools and
excellent reading instruction. Working with reading
that range from individual and
practices. Assessments may range from standardized professionals, they can develop appropriate building and
group standardized tests to
tests to informal assessments and also include
district-wide assessment plans. (A)
individual and group informal
technology-based assessments. They demonstrate
classroom assessment strategies,
appropriate use of assessments in their practice, and
including technology-based
they can train classroom teachers to administer and
assessment tools.
3.2) Place students along a
developmental continuum and
identify students proficiencies
and difficulties.
3.3) Use assessment information
to plan, evaluate, and revise
effective instruction that meets
the needs of all students,
including those at different
developmental stages and those
from different cultural and
linguistic backgrounds.
3.4) Communicate results of
assessments to specific
individuals (students, parents,
caregivers, colleagues,
administrators, policymakers,
policy officials, community, etc.)

interpret these assessments. (RS)

Support the classroom teacher in the assessment of
individual students. They extend the assessment to
further determine proficiencies and difficulties for
appropriate services. (RS)
Analyze, compare, contrast, and use assessment
results to plan, evaluate, and revise effective reading
instruction for all students within an
assessment/evaluation/instruction cycle. (CT, RS)

Interpret a students reading profile from

assessments and communicate the results to the
student, parents, caregivers, colleagues, and
administrators. (CT)

Know the range of students reading performance in

their building or under their control and know how this
range relates to the broader student population. They
provide support for an effective assessment plan. (A)
Assist the classroom teacher in using assessment to plan
instruction for all students. They use in-depth
assessment information to plan individual instruction for
struggling readers. They collaborate with other
education professionals to implement appropriate
reading instruction for individual students. They collect,
analyze, and use school wide assessment data to
implement and revise school reading programs. (RS)
Communicate assessment information to various
audiences for both accountability and instructional
purposes (policymakers, public officials, community
members, clinical specialists, school psychologists,
social workers, classroom teachers, and parents). (RS)

Standard 4:
CREATING A LITERATE ENVIRONMENT
Candidates create a literate environment that fosters reading and writing by integrating foundational knowledge, use of instructional practices, approaches and
methods, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessments.
4.1) Use students interests,
Assist the classroom teacher and paraprofessional in Support the professional staff in designing curriculum
reading abilities, and
selecting materials that match the reading levels,
based on students interests, reading abilities, and
backgrounds as foundations for
interests, and cultural/linguistic background of
cultural/linguistic backgrounds, articulating the research
the reading and writing program. students. (RS)
that grounds their practice. (A)
4.2) Use a large supply of books,
technology-based information,
and nonprint materials
representing multiple levels,
broad interests, and cultural and
linguistic backgrounds.
4.3) Model reading and writing
enthusiastically as valued
lifelong activities.
4.4) Motivate learners to be
lifelong readers.

Assist the classroom teacher in selecting books,

technology-based information, and nonprint
materials representing multiple levels, broad
interests, and cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
(RS)

Support the professional staff in selecting books,

technology-based information, and nonprint materials
representing multiple levels, broad interests, and cultural
/linguistic backgrounds, articulating the research that
grounds their practice. (A)

Demonstrate and model reading and writing for real

purposes in daily interactions with students and
education professionals as a valued lifelong activity .
Assist teachers and paraprofessionals. (RS)
Use methods to effectively revise instructional plans
to motivate all students. They assist classroom
teachers in designing programs that will intrinsically
and extrinsically motivate students. They
demonstrate these techniques and they can articulate
the research base that grounds their practice. (RS)

Participate and support the professional staff in

modeling reading and writing enthusiastically as valued
lifelong activity. (A)

Support the professional staff in designing intrinsic and

extrinsic motivational programs. (A)

Standard 5
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Candidates view professional development as a career-long effort and responsibility.
5.1) Display positive
Articulate the theories related to the connections
Ensure ethical learning contexts for reading instruction that
dispositions related to
between teacher dispositions and student
respects students, families, teachers, colleagues, and
reading and the teaching of
achievement. (RS)
communities. (A)
reading.
5.2) Continue to pursue the
development of professional
knowledge and dispositions.

5.3) Work with colleagues to

observe, evaluate, and
provide feedback on each
others practice.

5.4) Participate in, initiate,

implement, and evaluate
professional development
programs.

Identify specific questions related to knowledge,

skills, and dispositions related to their teaching of
reading and writing. Plan specific strategies to
seek answers, carrying out plans and articulating
answers. As members of professional
organizations (reading and writing), they are
informed about professional issues and are
effective advocates with administrators, school
boards, and local, state, and federal policymaking
bodies. (CT)
Actively engage in collaboration and dialogue
with other teachers and reading specialists to
obtain recommendations and advice on teaching
practices and ideas. Articulate evidence-based
recommendations, conducting action research as a
part of these collaborations. (CT)
Exhibit leadership skills in professional
development (planning, implementing, and
evaluating professional development efforts at the
grade, school district, and/or state level) being
cognizant of and identifying and describing the
characteristics of sound professional development
programs, articulating the evidence base that
grounds their practice. (RS)

Conduct professional study groups for paraprofessionals and

teachers. Assist classroom teachers and paraprofessionals in
identifying, planning, and implementing personal professional
development plans. Advocate to advance the professional
research base to expand knowledge-based practices. (RS)

Positively and constructively provide an evaluation of their

own or others teaching practices. Assist classroom teachers
and paraprofessionals as they strive to improve their practice.
(from read sp) Encourage and facilitate collaboration and
dialogue between professional personnel. (A)
Provide opportunities for school staff to attend professional
development programs. They bring consultants to school and
district level for sustained professional development.(A)