M.Ed. or Ed. S. in Reading: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
If you're a teacher looking to take your skills to the next level, you might want to consider getting a Master of Education or an Education Specialist degree in Reading. This advanced degree is perfect for licensed teachers who want to become experts in literacy and help students who are struggling with reading. As a reading specialist, you'll learn how to identify reading difficulties, create targeted interventions, and even coach your fellow teachers on the best ways to teach literacy. It's a really valuable degree to have, especially since reading is such a crucial part of every other subject in school. Many universities offer this degree, including National Louis University, which has a great program through its National College of Education. By specializing in reading, you can make a real difference in your students' lives and help them succeed in all areas of their education.
What Is an M.Ed. or Ed. S. in Reading?
Typically, reading programs are designed for teachers who have been teaching for at least two years and have a license. These programs offer different levels of credentials, such as a Reading Teacher endorsement, which is more focused, or a Reading Specialist endorsement, which is more comprehensive and requires additional coursework and hands-on practice. To become a Reading Specialist, you need to be trained to work with the whole school system, not just individual students. This means coaching other teachers, promoting effective literacy programs, and helping school and district leaders develop their literacy strategies. Of course, Reading Specialists also work directly with students who are struggling with reading, diagnosing their issues, and providing remediation services. By doing so, they play a crucial role in supporting students' literacy development and helping them succeed in school.
If you're a licensed teacher with a couple of years of experience, you might want to check out National Louis University's master's or education specialist programs in reading. They have a few options to choose from, such as a reading teacher endorsement, which takes 19 semester hours to complete. Or, you could go for a reading specialist endorsement, which takes a bit longer - 28 semester hours. If you're looking to take your education to the next level, you could even get a major in reading specialist, or combine that with another specialty like ESL or special education. This way, you can become an expert in literacy and another area that interests you.
Why Pursue an M.Ed. or Ed. S. in Reading?
Teachers receive specialized training to help students read for several reasons. Some teachers see how much of a difference it can make for a student who's struggling to read, and they want to help. When students have trouble reading, it can affect their other subjects, so teachers want to provide them with the right support. Other teachers get this training because they know it can lead to better job opportunities, such as becoming a reading specialist or literacy coach, which may come with higher pay or a lighter teaching load. By getting this training, teachers can make a real difference in their students' lives and also advance their own careers. Plus, schools are always looking for teachers who can help students with reading, so it's a valuable skill to have.
This degree is also a good fit for teachers who want to take on a leadership role in instruction while still working closely with students. As a reading specialist, you'll get to split your time between helping students directly and coaching your fellow teachers, which is a great way to balance your passion for teaching with your desire to take on new challenges. It's kind of a middle ground between being a full-time classroom teacher and being an administrator, which can be really appealing to teachers who don't want to give up working with students entirely.
Lots of people are talking about how well kids can read these days. Some kids have trouble reading because of things like dyslexia. So, many schools are making sure they have special teachers who can help kids learn to read. These teachers are called reading specialists. Because of the increased attention to reading, some states are giving schools more money to hire these special teachers. If you're thinking about becoming a teacher, you might want to look into what's happening in your state or local schools. They might have special jobs or extra money for reading specialists. This could be a great way to make a difference in kids' lives and help them learn to read.
Key Questions About the M.Ed. or Ed. S. in Reading
Do I need prior teaching experience to enroll?
So, to become a reading specialist, you usually need to be already a licensed teacher with some experience under your belt. Most programs, like the one at NLU, require at least two years of teaching experience before you can enroll. This is because the program is designed to build on what you already know from your time in the classroom, rather than starting from scratch. It's a way to take your teaching skills to the next level and become a specialist in reading instruction.
What's the difference between a Reading Teacher and a Reading Specialist endorsement?
A Reading Teacher endorsement generally qualifies a teacher as a subject-level expert in reading within the grade levels they're already licensed for, and typically requires fewer credit hours. A Reading Specialist endorsement is more comprehensive, generally qualifying a graduate as a deep literacy expert across a broader range of students, including those with more significant reading difficulties, and typically requires more coursework and clinical practice hours.
Can I combine reading with another specialization?
Some programs, like the one at NLU, let students specialize in more than one area at a time. For instance, they can major in Reading Specialist and also get certified to teach English as a second language or work with kids with special needs. This way, when they graduate, they can help students who need extra support with reading and also have language or disability challenges.
How long does the program take?
The time it takes to get a reading endorsement can be different depending on the level of credential you're going for. If you're looking to become a Reading Teacher, it usually takes less time than if you want to be a full-fledged Reading Specialist. And because most people in these programs are already working as teachers, they often complete the coursework part-time, which can take anywhere from one to three years.
What the Curriculum Typically Covers
While specific requirements vary by school and credential level, reading specialist coursework commonly includes:
- Foundations of reading development and the science of reading
- Diagnostic assessment of reading difficulties
- Intervention strategies for struggling readers, including students with dyslexia and other reading-related learning disabilities
- Literacy coaching — supporting classroom teachers' instructional practice
- Literacy leadership at the school and district level
- Supervised clinical practice, tutoring students with reading difficulties
Career Outcomes
Imagine a career where you get to help kids love reading and improve their literacy skills. That's what reading specialists and literacy coaches do. They work with schools and districts to identify which students need extra help, provide one-on-one support, and guide teachers in teaching reading effectively. It's a pretty important job, and the good news is that there will be plenty of opportunities for people in this field in the years to come. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that instructional coordinators, including many reading specialists and literacy coaches, will be in high demand over the next decade. This is partly because of the challenges that schools faced during the pandemic, and the need to get kids back on track with their reading skills. If you're interested in this career path, you can check out the latest projections and salary information on the BLS website. It's a rewarding career that can make a real difference in students' lives, and it's an exciting time to be part of it.
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Instructional Coordinators.
When people finish their education to become reading specialists, they can get jobs in many different areas. Some become leaders in their school districts, helping to create plans for teaching reading and language arts. Others design curricula, which are like roadmaps for what students will learn. Some even work one-on-one with students as private tutors, which can be really helpful for kids who are struggling with reading. And for those who want to teach other teachers how to help students read, they might go on to earn a specialized doctoral degree in literacy education and become professors. This way, they can train the next group of reading specialists and help even more students learn to love reading.
Compensation for reading specialists is generally set by a district's salary schedule, similar to that of classroom teachers. However, many districts offer a stipend or salary differential for the reading specialist role, given the additional credential and responsibilities involved. Because reading specialist positions are often centrally funded (through Title I or similar programs targeting literacy support), demand and job security for the role can also be somewhat tied to district and federal funding priorities, which is worth understanding for candidates weighing long-term career stability in this specific path.
Get a Master's in Education or an Education Specialist degree in Reading at National Louis University.
At National Louis University, the National College of Education offers a program for teachers seeking to improve their reading-teaching skills. This program is for teachers who have been teaching for at least two years and have a license. The program offers different options, such as a Reading Teacher Endorsement that takes 19 semester hours to complete or a Reading Specialist Endorsement that takes 28 semester hours. There are also more advanced options, such as an Ed.S. degree, that combine a reading specialization with other areas, such as teaching English as a second language or special education.
