Teaching children to read is a worthwhile endeavor as it gives them a key to unlock doors throughout life. It is especially gratifying to help children who struggle with literacy to become confident, independent readers and writers.
The Master Reading Teacher Certificate is part of the Texas Reading Initiative designed to ensure that all Texas students are reading on grade level by the end of third grade and that their reading knowledge and skills grow throughout their public school years. A Master Reading Teacher in Texas teaches reading in the classroom and serves as a reading mentor to fellow teachers.
Texas has a need for more Master Reading Teachers, and to incentivize teachers, the State has created a grant program through the Texas Education Agency for those who want to become certified Master Reading Teachers at high-need campuses.
Prerequisites
If you hold a Texas Reading Specialist certificate, the first step to becoming a Master Reading Teacher in Texas is to complete an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP). If you do not hold a Reading Specialist Certificate, you must hold a Texas teaching certificate, have three years of teaching experience in a public or accredited private school, complete an approved EPP, and take the required test.
Certification
In order to receive a Master Reading Teacher certificate in Texas, you have to pass the TExMaT #85 for Master Reading Teacher (MRT). The MRT certificate is an all-grade-level certificate.
Testing
The MRT test consists of two assessment modes: multiple choice questions and a constructed response case study assignment. The TEA states, “The MRT test is a criterion-referenced exam designed to measure a candidate’s knowledge in relation to an established standard of competence (criterion) rather than to the performance of other candidates.”
Preparing to Become a Master Reading Teacher in Texas
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) offers a fully online program for educators who want to pursue an advanced degree in education. The Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in Reading is an accelerated online degree program consisting of 33 credit hours’ worth of coursework that can be completed in as few as 12 months.
In addition to preparing you to become a curriculum leader in literacy instruction, this program also prepares you for certification and testing. The Professional Preparation Seminar course includes online modules in preparation for the Master Reading Teacher Certification State Exam and/or the Reading Specialist Certification State Exam.
Core courses in this program include Social and Cultural Studies of Education, Evaluation of Curriculum & Instruction, Advanced Theories for Learning, Foundations of Curriculum, Foundations of Educational Research, and Collegial Coaching and Mentoring.
Specialized courses in this program include Theoretical Models and Processes of Reading, Design, Implementation and Evaluation of Reading Programs, Advanced Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties, and a Practicum in Diagnosis & Remediation of Reading.
This program is TEACH Grant eligible. The TAMIU College of Education is accredited by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification.
Learn more about the TAMIU online Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction program with a Specialization in Reading.
Sources:
ETS: Texas Educator Certification Testing – About the TExMaT Tests
Texas Education Agency: Student Services Certificates
Texas Education Agency: Approved Educator Standards
