Certificate Program in Reading
The Reading Certificate Program is ideal for K-12 classroom teachers and community college instructors who are looking for ways to improve their students' reading skills. The certificate prepares the holder to assess student reading and provide reading instruction in response to the assessments. The holder is also trained to develop, implement and adapt the reading and content curriculum, and assist teacher colleagues in these areas. Courses may be taken in either an open-enrollment format or through on-site custom training arranged through individual schools or school districts.
Program coursework offers a blend of research-based concepts, demonstration of those concepts and ample opportunities to put concepts into practice. The Reading Certificate is awarded upon successful completion of 18 quarter units of required coursework and is issued to K-12 teachers by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
California community college instructors interested in teaching reading at the community college level can apply the Reading Certificate Program coursework toward a Reading Equivalency.
How you will benefit
Gain a strong foundation in:
- the development of fluent reading
- components of reading comprehension
- the planning and delivery of instruction based on assessment
- intervention strategies at early and intermediate reading levels
- issues related to the reading process, including English language structure, second language acquisition, psychological and socio-linguistic aspects of reading and writing, and relationships between language, spelling, reading and writing
- supervised field experience
Who should participate
Teachers, leaders, mentors and reading resource teachers working with early readers, intermediate struggling readers, English language learners and other students whose reading and comprehension skills fall below grade level.
Application Information
Teachers must meet specific criteria in order to qualify for a CCTC Reading certificate. We encourage you to submit an application to the Reading Certificate Program when registering for the first class. For an information packet and application, please contact our office at (530) 757-8512, or complete our online application.
| UNITS | F | W | SP | SU | ||
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| REQUIRED COURSES | Developing Fluent Readers | 3 | 
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| Teaching Comprehension Strategies | 3 |
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| Assessment-Based Reading Instruction | 3 |
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| Intervention with Struggling Readers | 3 |
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| Issues in Reading Instruction | 3 |
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| Reading Practicum | 3 |
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Classroom format
Online Learning format |
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Required Courses
Developing Fluent Readers
3 quarter units academic credit, X358.70.
Learn how to develop fluent reading across grade levels for speakers of English and English learners. Learn about phonemic awareness, phonological structure of English, morphological structure of English, decoding/word attack strategies, spelling, importance of extensive practice, decodable texts, skills and strategies to develop independent readers, reading and writing practice including writing to reinforce reading, connected texts, transfer strategies from primary language reading skills in English language reading skills, strategies and materials for struggling readers.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Teaching Comprehension Strategies
3 quarter units academic credit, X358.71.
Fewer than half of California students read at a proficient level. Help keep students from falling behind by developing the knowledge and skills needed to teach improved reading comprehension. Learn about the role of academic language and background knowledge, vocabulary development and concept formation, narrative and expository text analysis and more. Examine research-based best practices for teaching effective thinking strategies, study strategies, independent reading of high-quality books, development of listening and reading comprehension skills, motivational strategies, as well as scaffolding strategies for the English language learner, multicultural literature and informative text. Coursework satisfies requirements set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the CCTC Reading Certificate.This course is not currently scheduled.
Assessment-Based Reading Instruction
3 quarter units academic credit, X370.36.
Use effective assessments and evaluations to develop, deliver and modify reading and writing instruction for all students. Learn selection, use and interpretation of reading and writing assessments; assessment of knowledge and skills with English proficient learners as well as English language learners; formal and informal assessment strategies and tools; communicating assessment results to parents, administrators, teachers, school board members and students; aligning assessments with instructional programs; effective assessment-based intervention programs; and using instructional technology for assessment and instruction.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Intervention with Struggling Readers
3 quarter units academic credit, X370.35.
Learn
about assessment-based intervention strategies at early and
intermediate reading levels. Study research-based intervention models
and develop skills in effective interventions, taking into account home
and community literacy practices and English language proficiency.
Topics also include:
- aligning ongoing assessment with reading and writing intervention programs
- flexible groupings
- small group and one-on-one techniques
- instructional technology
- scaffolding strategies
- student and family support networks
- comprehension for older, struggling readers
This course is not currently scheduled.
Issues in Reading Instruction
3 quarter units academic credit, X358.5.
Review and understand the research in reading and language arts and its implications for student assessment and instruction. Learn about how children learn to read; the phonological and morphological structure of English; orthography/spelling; second language acquisition; the relationship between language, spelling, reading and writing; psychological and socio-linguistic aspects of reading and writing; balanced comprehensive literacy instruction; reading and writing skills for the English proficient learner and the English language learner; respect for such individual differences as ethnic, culture, gender, linguistic and socioeconomic status; and the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing and publishing).
This course is not currently scheduled.
Reading Practicum
3 quarter units academic credit, X358.6.
Transfer theory into practice in this culminating experience of the Reading Certificate Program. Extend the principles and guided practice you received during previous courses by engaging in 45 hours of documented mentored work in a classroom, of which a minimum of 15 hours will be observed by the mentor or practicum instructor. Selected practicum sites are designed to provide balanced, comprehensive reading and language arts instruction and ensure you experience diverse training opportunities such as teaching English language learners, beginning readers and students with reading difficulties. On-site in the classroom, assess struggling readers at both early and intermediate levels, and tutor or teach small group of struggling readers at two or more reading levels including the nonreader level and one or more higher levels. The 15 hours of seminars included in this practicum will reinforce everything you've learned in class and in the field.
Note: Enrollment is limited to candidates in the Reading Certificate Program who have satisfactorily completed all other courses in the Reading Certificate Program. Coursework satisfies requirements set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the CCTC Reading Certificate.
Prerequisites:
Issues in Reading Instruction, Developing Fluent Readers, Teaching Comprehension Strategies, Intervention with Struggling Readers, Assessment-Based Reading Instruction, Student must be enrolled in RCC or RCP Reading Certificate Program.
This course is not currently scheduled.
For More Information
Download a Reading Certificate Program brochure for a list of current quarter courses and enrollment information. 
(228 KB)
Bring This Program to Your School
All of our reading courses can be brought to your school or district on a contract basis. To learn more, contact UC Davis Extension at (530) 757-8512.
Approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).
