Certificate in Family Literacy from Penn State University

In partnership with the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy, NCFL has developed and supported the Certificate in Family Literacy — a series of graduate courses available through Penn State University’s online World Campus.

Supporting the evidence that credit-bearing professional development provides that “intensity and duration” proven to be most effective for family literacy students, we’ve seen steady growth in interest and enrollment across the few years these courses have been offered.

Students represent a variety of careers and positions from all across and outside our nation, including teachers for children and adults, librarians, family literacy providers, educators supporting literacy for English language learners and literacy learning within other fields, such as health care.

We are pleased to announce the courses that will be available for Spring Semester 2009 and encourage you to enroll now and join this diverse community of learners. Expand your professional development to include Certificate in Family Literacy graduate courses through flexible online learning at Penn State University. Get the rigor of high-quality practical content that can immediately impact your perspective and practice.

Spring 2009 classes run January 21, 2009 through April 22, 2009, and registration is under way.

Certificate courses offered this semester include:

• ADTED 456, Introduction to Family Literacy, which probes comprehensive family literacy services as a way to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and under-education.
• ADTED 459, Interactive Literacy: Parents and Children, a course that prepares educators to understand, plan and practice interactive literacy strategies in intentional and strategic ways. There is an ongoing focus on effective learning strategies for all children and families, including English language learners.

For more information, visit Penn State Online or contact Dr. Sheila Sherow at sms20@psu.edu. To register, visit Penn State Online’s Getting Started page.

— Donna Bell