This course focuses on the emerging literacy needs of K-12 students who are at beginning or minimal levels of processing reading and writing effectively for meaning, including English language learners with distinctive literacy development needs. Students examine sound socio-psycholinguistic insights into the nature and development of reading and writing processes and explore the critical conditions, which help learners become more strategic, self-aware readers and writers. Included in the course are investigations into structuring balanced literacy experiences, guided reading and writing, literacy-enriched environments, quality reading materials, meaningful records of growth, and other practices which increase students' pleasure, value, and success in their literate lives.