Foundations of Reading (ED 309)

Term: 2025-2026 Fall

Faculty

Kristina S Railsback
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Dr. Kristina Stenersen Railsback spent over two decades in K-12 education, teaching in a variety of levels and settings from the Pacific Northwest to North Carolina. She has taught ages from kindergarten to adult learners, in private school, public school, and higher education settings. She holds state teaching certification as well as certification with the Association of Christian Schools International. Her teaching specialties have included academically gifted education, English/Language Arts, social studies, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Dr. Railsback is a member of the Council of Teachers of English and the International Literacy Association, and has served on school accreditation committees. 

Dr. Railsback’s doctoral research focused on differentiation of instruction in the regular classroom setting to meet the needs of all students. Her scholarly research interests include individualization of learning, multicultural education, curriculum development, culturally responsive teaching, literacy, and Universal Design for Learning. She has a special interest in international education and preparing teachers to work with linguistically and culturally diverse learners. 

Schedule

Tue, 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM (8/18/2025 - 10/5/2025) Location: MAIN DEEDS D104

Description

A course exploring the latest research-based understanding of how individuals learn to read, focusing on key components including phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling, fluency, vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension. Students will examine evidence-based instructional strategies to effectively teach reading skills, analyze assessment tools, and develop practical applications for diverse learners to promote successful literacy acquisition across various educational settings. Research-based interventions for struggling readers will also be examined.