Acceptance notice for Michelle from Pima Community College. The image shows a colorful campus building with students sitting and walking outside, along with the Pima Community College logo. Text reads: ‘Dear Michelle: Congratulations on being accepted to Pima Community College!’

Back to School: My Journey Toward a Literacy Endorsement

This fall, I’m beginning a new chapter in my professional learning journey by taking EDC 272: Elementary Methods of Reading/Phonics at Pima Community College. This 3-credit course is part of Arizona’s new requirements for teachers, and it gives me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of how children learn to read so I can better support every student in my classroom.

Why This Class Matters

Arizona’s Move on When Reading law (A.R.S. § 15-704) requires that by August 1, 2028, all K–5 teachers who provide literacy instruction earn a Literacy Endorsement. The goal of this law is to ensure that every child receives evidence-based, systematic instruction in reading, especially in the early grades. That includes:

  • Direct and explicit phonics instruction
  • Assessments to track progress and guide next steps
  • Strategies that support phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing

For me, this class is more than just a requirement. It is an opportunity to continue growing as an educator and to bring the latest research and best practices into our classroom.

What I’ll Be Learning

EDC 272 covers the essential methods for teaching reading and phonics at the elementary level. Topics include:

  • Oral language development
  • Phonological and phonemic awareness
  • Systematic phonics and spelling
  • Vocabulary and reading comprehension
  • Fluency and writing foundations
  • Diagnostic assessments to plan differentiated instruction

In other words, I will be learning both the “big picture” of how kids become readers and the specific tools and strategies to help them succeed.

What This Means for Our Classroom

When teachers keep learning, students benefit. As I work through this class, I will be applying what I learn right away with my first graders. That might mean introducing new routines, using clearer strategies to support struggling readers, or helping students feel more confident when tackling new words.

Most importantly, it ensures that your child, and every child in Arizona, receives reading instruction that is:

  • Systematic (step-by-step and carefully sequenced)
  • Evidence-based (backed by research and science of reading)
  • Responsive (adapted to the needs of each learner)

Reading success does not happen by accident. It is built. With this class, I am excited to bring even stronger, science-backed instruction into our room so that every student feels the joy and power of becoming a reader.

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