Disciplinary Literacy in Secondary Classrooms

Instructor Information

• Instructor: Dr. Patricia Wu (Associate Professor of Teacher Education)
• Email: pwu@university.alkimi.ai
• Office: Lovell Hall 120
• Office Hours:
  • Monday & Thursday: 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (In person, Lovell Hall 120)
  • Friday: 4:00–5:00 p.m. (Virtual via Zoom; link posted in Canvas)
  • Also available by appointment.

Course Description

Reading, writing, and discussion strategies for complex texts in the content areas, academic vocabulary, and supporting struggling readers and English learners in grades 7–12. EDUC 340 prepares secondary teacher candidates to teach reading, writing, speaking, and listening through the specialized habits and inquiry methods of their specific content disciplines (biology, chemistry, English, history, or mathematics). Moving beyond generic content-area reading strategies, candidates explore disciplinary literacy—how scientists critique empirical claims, how historians source and corroborate documents, and how mathematicians parse symbolic language. Candidates learn to evaluate text complexity, teach academic vocabulary, scaffold complex informational and multimodal texts, lead structured academic discussions, and support adolescent English learners and striving readers in grades 7–12.

Prerequisites

Admission to Teacher Education.

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of EDUC 340, students will be able to:

1. Differentiate Content-Area Reading and Disciplinary Literacy: Examine how literacy demands diverge across academic disciplines, applying specialized reading and thinking heuristics unique to science, history, literature, and mathematics.
2. Evaluate Quantitative, Qualitative, and Reader-Task Text Complexity: Analyze complex informational, literary, and multimodal secondary texts using quantitative readability metrics, qualitative complexity rubrics, and adolescent reader considerations.
3. Design Explicit Tiered Academic Vocabulary Instruction: Identify and teach Tier 2 high-utility academic words and Tier 3 domain-specific technical vocabulary using morphological analysis, semantic maps, and context-based strategies.
4. Implement Scaffolds for Secondary Comprehension and Writing: Design close reading protocols, text-dependent questioning sequences, disciplinary annotation strategies, and writing-to-learn routines that scaffold adolescent literacy.
5. Facilitate Evidence-Based Academic Discourse: Plan and facilitate structured student-led classroom discussions (e.g., Socratic seminars, fishbowl debates, academic talk moves) that foster collaborative disciplinary sense-making.

Required Course Materials & Approximate Costs

1. Buehl, Doug. Developing Readers in the Academic Disciplines. 2nd ed., Stenhouse Publishers, 2017. Approx. $45 print or digital.
2. Fisher, Douglas, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie. Visible Learning for Literacy, Grades K-12. Corwin, 2016. Approx. $40 print.
3. Total estimated cost: $65 to $95.

Generative AI Policy (AI Level 2: AI Permitted with Disclosure for Specified Tasks)

In accordance with Alkimi University Academic Policies (Student Handbook §5.8), EDUC 340 operates under AI Level 2.

• What is permitted: You may use generative AI tools to locate open-source disciplinary primary source documents, brainstorm contextual examples for Tier 2 academic vocabulary, and proofread draft lesson plan descriptions for clarity and conciseness.
• What is prohibited: You may not use generative AI to write your text complexity analysis, author text-dependent questioning sequences, generate your disciplinary literacy unit plan, or complete weekly Canvas quizzes. Disciplinary literacy adaptations must reflect your own content-area pedagogical knowledge.
• Disclosure: All submitted text set projects, discussion lesson plans, and curriculum portfolios must include an AI disclosure statement detailing any tools used and how output was verified and adapted. If no AI tools were used, state: 'No generative AI tools were used in preparing this work.'

Grading Components and Weights

• Midterm Examination 1: 15% (In class, Thursday, October 1)
• Midterm Examination 2: 15% (In class, Thursday, November 12)
• Multi-Text Set & Text Complexity Analysis Project: 20% (Due Friday, October 23 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Structured Disciplinary Discussion Simulation: 15% (Due Friday, November 20 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Weekly Disciplinary Literacy Canvas Quizzes: 15% (Due Mondays at 11:59 p.m. in Canvas; lowest quiz score dropped)
• Secondary Disciplinary Literacy Curriculum Unit & Portfolio: 20% (Due by the end of the final exam period, Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 8:00–10:00 a.m.)

Grading Scale (Alkimi University Standard)

• A: 93–100% | A-: 90–92%
• B+: 87–89% | B: 83–86% | B-: 80–82%
• C+: 77–79% | C: 73–76% | C-: 70–72%
• D+: 67–69% | D: 60–66% | F: Below 60%
• Extra credit: No individual extra credit assignments are offered in this course.

Course Schedule (Fall 2026)

Course Policies

Attendance Policy

Punctual attendance and active collaboration in literacy simulations and microteaching discussions are mandatory. In every class, candidates practice disciplinary reading heuristics, model think-alouds, and facilitate academic discourse protocols. If illness or an emergency prevents you from attending, notify Dr. Wu before class. More than two unexcused absences will lower your final course grade. Students who miss the first two class meetings without notifying the instructor may be dropped. Students may miss class for religious observance without penalty if they notify the instructor in writing within the first two weeks of the semester (by Wednesday, September 9, 2026). Absences for university-sponsored activities (athletics, performances, conferences) are excused with a letter from the sponsoring office at least one week in advance.

Late Work Policy

Assignments submitted after the deadline will incur a 10% deduction per calendar day up to three days. Submissions later than 72 hours will receive zero credit. Weekly Canvas reading quizzes must be submitted by Monday at 11:59 p.m.

Teacher Education Admission Prerequisite

Enrollment in EDUC 340 requires formal Admission to Teacher Education (at least 45 earned credits, 2.750 GPA, basic skills test, and background check). Secondary education candidates must achieve a grade of C+ or higher to satisfy degree and licensing requirements.

Final Exam Policy

EDUC 340 has no final examination. The secondary disciplinary literacy curriculum unit & portfolio takes its place. Nothing is due on Reading Day (Thursday, December 10, 2026).