This course will address the psychological, motivational, and linguistic foundations of the reading and writing process including language acquisition, and the histories of reading pedagogy. Students will understand the major components of reading including: comprehension, vocabulary, word identification/sight words, fluency, phonics, and phonemic awareness. Participants will develop and understanding that reading involves highly complex processes by which children learn to speak, read, and write. Scientifically-based research will be analyzed and instructional strategies to address ranges of individual differences, reading difficulties, reading disabilities, and diversity in learning to read and write will be foci of this course.