Become a Reading Teacher: Pursue a Master's Degree

When you pursue a new career in education and before you sign up for an online master's degree, you should check with the department of elementary and secondary education in your state. Each state has its own requirements for certification.

If you want to become a reading teacher-- sometimes called a remedial reading teacher, reading specialist, or literacy coach--you will need to take graduate level courses in reading instruction. You can get an online master's degree in reading or a reading specialist degree. These courses teach you how to diagnose reading problems, administer reading assessments, and use strategies to correct reading problems. Make sure you take classes from an accredited university and that your school district will accept your degree for the position you are pursuing before you enroll in any programs.

Many colleges and universities offer graduate degrees in reading, and many offer an online option. Other programs work around a teacher's schedule. Most universities realize that teachers pursuing a master's degree are already working in the classroom. They want to provide a program where you can further your education, but you still have time to teach your students.

For example, at the University of Missouri Columbia, reading classes are offered starting at 4:00 pm or later on weekdays, after most schools are out. Some classes can be taken as an independent study, where you work one-on-one with the instructor and meet with her to discuss your progress when it is convenient for your schedule. There are also several classes offered in the summer, when teachers are out of school. Some of the classes are offered online, so that you can do a combination of both in-person classes and online.

Another example of a program is at Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is an online master's degree in reading program, where you can receive a master's degree in reading and literacy if you are already a certified K-12 teacher. For more information on other graduate schools with online programs, you can check out the website, GradSchools.com. You can do a search by program type and/or location to find one that best suits your needs.

If you do not have a graduate degree in reading or a graduate degree in education with an emphasis in reading education, it will not be possible to have a career in education as a reading teacher. Instructing students, especially ones struggling with reading, takes special training and knowledge.

Most of your online master's degree in reading courses will require you to practice administering reading assessments, such as a Daily Reading Assessment (DRA) or running record, to elementary, middle school or high school students. If you work at a school already, you should have access to students you can practice on. Most instructors ask you not to assess a relative. After you have given the assessment, you will usually need to write up your results and create a plan for the student to improve his or her reading. This is practical experience for a career as a reading teacher.

In your online master's degree in reading courses, you will learn about many reading assessments, types of reading problems, current research on reading education and different types of reading programs currently in schools. If you are working as a classroom teacher, you will be able to use many of the techniques and strategies you are learning in your graduate classes in your current position. This is one of the best aspects about going to school once you already have a teaching job. While you are learning strategies and theories, you can see the practical application of these with your students and test different techniques to see what works the best.