Literacy and literature lay the foundation for education, enabling students to think critically, express themselves creatively, and connect with others’ experiences. Literacy instruction is particularly critical in the current education landscape, with reading scores dropping to their lowest levels in decades and media literacy similarly lacking. Compounding the crisis: the US faces a critical teacher shortage, with 55,000 vacant positions and an additional 270,000 posts currently filled by underqualified teachers.
The evidence is clear: the nation needs qualified teachers with a passion for literacy instruction now more than ever. Earning an online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from American University (AU) can help prepare you to meet this demand. Continue reading to learn how AU’s online MAT program prepares educators to lead literacy efforts forward in their classrooms.
Make a Difference in Education with AU’s MAT
Transform Your Passion for Teaching Into Impact
The Building Blocks of Literacy Instruction
The AU curriculum includes several courses designed to prepare students to teach reading and writing fundamentals to a diverse range of students. The AU online MAT program draws from an antiracist pedagogy that teaches literacy development skills with an emphasis on cultural and linguistic diversity, enabling teachers to provide equitable education for all students.
Teaching Literacy in the Elementary School (EDU-601) focuses on helping elementary school pupils expand their vocabulary, use phonics to learn to read and write, and read with comprehension. Coursework also covers techniques to teach students with cognitive, behavioral, and psychological/social differences. Students in these courses cultivate the skills to build inclusive classroom environments that accommodate students from different backgrounds with varied literacy levels.
Exploring Literature in the Classroom
AU’s online MAT program also helps students learn how to build a diverse curriculum. During the Effective Teaching for Diverse Students course, MAT students will engage in curriculum design and implementation activities, including instructional planning and using portfolios. The Children’s Literature: A Critical Literacy Perspective (EDU-619) course will help aspiring teachers learn how to select and teach diverse literary texts to promote cultural awareness and inclusion. Ultimately, students will graduate with the skills to create lesson plans that introduce learners to literature from various genres and perspectives.
How AU Prepares Educators with Hands-On Experiences
In addition to online classes, assignments, and research projects, the AU MAT program offers extensive fieldwork for essential hands-on experience. During their fourth semester, online MAT students spend two days a week observing and learning new skills in a local classroom, providing real-world engagement with local educators teaching literacy and literature.
In their final semester, students complete a student-teaching requirement by teaching five days a week in a local classroom, applying what they have learned and practicing teaching literacy and literature to students at all ability levels. A weekly online class allows students to meet, discuss their teaching experiences, and seek guidance on any challenges.
The practicum components of the online MAT play a critical role in helping students prepare to step into their own classrooms upon graduation. However, the practical experience included in the online MAT doesn’t just prepare students for teaching roles. It also exposes them to the latest classroom techniques and literacy standards and helps them stay updated with evolving education trends, preparing them for various education-related career paths. Common career paths for AU MAT graduates include teaching English to elementary or secondary school students, teaching adult literacy, curriculum design, and literary specialist roles.
Empowering Future Educators in Literacy and Literature
The nation needs qualified teachers passionate about literacy and literature to help students improve their language and vocabulary skills and better understand themselves and the world around them. AU’s online MAT program helps students build the skills to foster a lifelong love of reading in students, setting them up for success.
If you want to make a meaningful impact in the education field, consider enrolling in AU’s online MAT program. Contact an enrollment advisor to learn more, or start your application now.
