Balanced Literacy
We've been using the Balanced Literacy
method since 1996. This method blends
the best of "whole language" and
"phonics" instruction. Neither is
completely effective without the other
and the results are amazing!
Reading
Reading TO children:               
Read Alouds:  
*help to internalize sentence structure and "book language" concepts,
*provide motivation to learn to read,
*develop a sense of story structure,
*develop vocabulary concepts,
*build prediction skills, and
*provide a proficient reader model

Reading WITH children:
Shared Reading:
*develops: comprehension skills, language-rhyming, plot/story elements

Focus Poetry:    
*develops/reviews high frequency words and known phonics, and
*teacher models/develops: print concepts, early reading strategies, use
of 3 cueing sources, monitoring and self-correction, good reader
strategies, comprehension

Reading BY children:     
Guided Reading:  
*reinforces reading strategies in context of story
*story introduction promotes children's effective use of cueing sources,
prediction, monitoring, etc., and
*teacher supports/prompts: print concepts, early reading strategies,
use of 3 cueing sources, monitoring and self-correction, good reader
strategies comprehension    

Independent Reading:  
*builds self-confidence, fluency, vocabulary, and
*provides practice in applying reading strategies

Of course having
literacy centers in place, allows children the opportunity to
independently practice what you've been teaching (either in large or small group
instruction) while you work with a small  group.
Writing
Writing FOR children:
*Teacher-modeled

Writing WITH children:
Shared Writing  
(Buzz Book, morning messages, language experience charts, etc.)    
*models how phonics works,
*models conventional spelling,
*models mechanics - capitals at the beginning, punctuation ( . ? ! ) at     
the end, etc.,
*aids in understanding the reciprocity of reading and writing,
*helps in hearing/sequencing sounds in words, and
*develops print concepts

Writing BY children:    
Independent Writing:  
*builds confidence as a writer,                                
*strengthens story structure,                                
*develops understanding of uses of writing,                                  
*supports reading development,                                
*provides practice in different types of writing,                                
*develops understanding of writing as a recursive process

Of course having
literacy centers in place, allows children the opportunity to
independently practice what you've been teaching (either in large or small group
instruction) while you work with a small group.
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