Elementary Reading & Literacy, K-6
The Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT) with a Focus on Reading & Literacy is a program of study that accomplishes two goals. First, it concentrates on developing instructional leaders. Second, it concentrates on the content knowledge elementary teachers need in order to be effective teachers of reading and literacy.
The program incorporates the Five Core Principles of Teaching as described by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). It is an expectation that upon completion of this degree, teachers actively apply these principles:
- Teachers are committed to students and learning.
- Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach them to students.
- Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
- Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
- Teachers are members of learning communities.
The program also incorporates the International Reading Association (IRA) Standards for Reading Professionals. These standards emphasize content knowledge and professional practice that is evidence of this knowledge.
Each of the MAT degrees consists of 10 courses—made up of core courses and specialty courses. Six core courses focus on content that all teachers need to know regardless of grade level and/or subject area. Four additional specialty courses focus on the content specific to each program.
