PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE LITERACY TEACHING

PRINCIPLE 6: EFFECTIVE TEACHERS ORGANIZE FOR LITERACY

INSTRUCTION

SO JUST WHAT IS A BALANCE D

APPROACH?
At no point does only one of the
following programs/ units best
represents a balanced approach to
literacy.

With this in mind, a true balance in

instruction of literacy has/ creates:
a community of learners,
incorporating components of
balanced approach, and
scaffolding is paramount in the
learning process.
Basal Reading Programs, literature
focus units, literature circles, and
reading and writing workshops

A BASAL
READING
PROGRAM
-

Commercial or For-Profit programs

Historically known as the textbook

includes TE, instructional material,
supplemental text/software

TE is very run-of-the-mill and

guided as for instruction delivery

From phonics to spelling instruction

these skills are found in basals.

Whole class dynamic

Basals are often treated as a

complete literacy program/ or The
be-all to-end all by publishersbut
standardized scores, and so much
more has proven that to be untrue.

READING AND
WRITING WORKSHOP

READING AND WRITING

WORKSHOP
designed to help students
develop skills and strategies
that will be used in their future
writing projects and in future
reading
.and in their future.
There is a gradual build of skills
and strategies and then forced
implementation. For the
students, those skills and
strategies eventually become
instinctive, innate, and their
own.

ESSENTIALS OF READING & WRITING

WORKSHOP
Reading Workshop

Teacher Model- Read to

Shared Reading
Minilessons

(researched based reading strategies)

Guided Reading and

Literature Circles
Time to read independently
and time to share

Writing Workshop

Teacher Model- Write to

Shared Writing
Minilessons
Teacher and peer conferences
Time to write independently
and share
Literature based instruction

Choice

Choice

Reflection and Evaluation

Records and self assessment

Reading Workshopand
(60 mins.)
Environment
materials

Writing Workshop
mins.)
Environment
and(60
materials

Minilesson/Read To
Independent Reading
Guided Reading
Literature Study/ Book Clubs
Sharing

Minilesson/Write To
Status of the Class
Independent Writing
Conferring
Sharing

READING WORKSHOP
READ ALOUDS: Teachers will read fiction and non-fiction stories. They will
be exposed to proper fluency as well as have the opportunity to respond to
literary elements.
SHARED READING: The teacher and students read text together referring
to the text for different purposes.
READING STATIONS/ CENTERS: Students will work cooperatively with
hands-on activities reinforcing various skills taught throughout the year.
GUIDED READING: Students will get the opportunity to read in a small
group of 4-6 children. They will learn strategies, phonics, and
comprehension skills. Teachers will guide students through literature studies
connected to the Georgia Standards of Excellence.
INDEPENDENT READING: Students will read independently in class and
during AR.

WRITING WORKSHOP
Modeled Writing-- conducted as a whole-group, small-group, or one-on-one activity.
It involves the teacher composing text and demonstrating the way an effective writer
works.
Shared / Interactive Writing--involves the class or small groups. Here the teacher
initiates and models writing, while students contribute their ideas.
Guided Writing-- involves very specific and focused instruction. It can be one-toone or with small groups of students with similar needs. Each student in a group
composes an individual piece of writing with the intense support of the teacher.

Independent Writing-- In independent writing students take responsibility

for their own writing. It provides an opportunity for them to demonstrate the
processes and strategies that have been demonstrated through the other
elements of the writing block.

INCORPORATING TECHNOLOGY INTO

THE INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES

TECHNOLOGY CAN MAKE A

DIFFERENCE
For people without disabilities, technology makes things
easier; for people with disabilities, technology makes
things possible.
(IBM, 1991)
This is true for both reading and writing!

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

Preparing students for the
future
Up-to-date learning
Alternatives to textbooks
Learning expanded beyond the
classroom
Individualized instruction
Learning supports/ assistive
technology

IDEAS FOR TECHNOLOGY

INTEGRATION

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