From Babble to Books:
Language and Phonics Development

~ online : asynchronous ~

 

Dr. Anna Iacovetta
driacovetta@gmail.com

216-543-4667 (between 7am-9pm)    

Course Description

Explores the evolution of language development and its connection to literacy, including spoken and written language, grapho-phonemic development, and phonological awareness.

Course Objectives      

Students will be able to:

*  Explain how language serves as the foundation for literacy development.

* Understand and describe the development of language and literacy, including phonological awareness and the progression of phonics and spelling skills across 5 developmental stages.
* Examine student writing samples to identify their stage of development and determine appropriate instructional strategies.

* Use knowledge of language development to plan and differentiate phonics instruction through hands-on activities with familiar, everyday materials.

 

Materials Required
- Access to PowerPoint/Google Slides
- (text highly recommended, but not required)
Bear, D., Invernizzi, M, & Templeton, S. (2023). Word study for phonics, vocabulary, and spelling instruction (7^th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.

 

Outline of Course

1. Word Study/Vocabulary
2. Emergent Stage
3. Letter Name Stage
4. Within Word Stage
5. Syllables/Affixes Stage
6. Derivational Relations Stage
7. Identifying and Assessing Students/Application

 

Assignments

Students will be provided with 6 separate Google Slide presentations

1. Overview of Word Study & Vocabulary  15 pts
Introduction to the Vocabulary “Cheat Sheet” activity. Throughout the course, students will maintain a running list of approximately 25–30 key vocabulary terms, including definitions and examples, to serve as a quick-reference resource.
Example:
   Digraph: A combination of two letters representing one sound.
   Examples: SH, PH, TH, CH, WH (ship, phone, etc.)

2.  Show What You Know!  10 pts (x5 = 50 total)
For each stage of phonological development, students will read through a slide presentation highlighting the key concepts, characteristics, and skills associated with that stage. Presentations will include a variety of embedded teaching videos that demonstrate these skills, examples of student work, and provide instructional strategies appropriate for different ages and grade levels. Students will also explore practical ways to use everyday objects and materials as learning tools to support students at each stage of development.

Following each PowerPoint, students will complete a brief “Show What You Know!” activity. These short comprehension checks will reinforce key concepts, provide an opportunity to reflect on the material, and help students monitor their understanding as they progress through each stage. No long papers just focused opportunities to demonstrate what you’ve learned and put your knowledge into practice!

3.  Assessing Students (Case Study final)  30 pts (15 for each case study)
Students will demonstrate their total understanding of phonological awareness by reviewing two student case studies. Using each student’s description and writing sample, they will identify the student’s stage of literacy development, explain their reasoning using course vocabulary, and recommend appropriate learning activities and books to support the student’s growth.

(100 points total)

 

Bibliography/Reading List Materials

Caldwell, J. S., & Leslie, L. (2013). Intervention strategies to follow informal reading inventory assessment: So what do I do now? (3rd ed.). Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
 

Elmore, R. F., Peterson, P. L., & McCarthy, S. J. (1996). Restructuring in the classroom:

Teaching, learning and School organization. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
 

Fisher, D., Brozo, W. G., Frey, N., & Ivey, G. (2015). 50 instructional routines to develop content literacy (3^rd ed.). Pearson.
 

Stahl, K. A. D., Flanigan, K., & McKenna, M. C. (2025). Assessment for reading instruction (5th ed.). Guilford Press.

Tompkins, G. E., Rodgers, E., & Wren, D. G. (2021). Literacy for the 21st century:         A balanced approach (7th ed.). Pearson