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November 27, 2012

Balanced Literacy Program Components & Strategies!

By Cassandra Silva According to K12 Reader, a balanced literacy program strickes between both whole language and phonics. A literacy program should guide students toward proficient and lifelong reading. There are seven different components of a balanced literacy program: read alouds, guided reading, shared reading, independent reading, modled/sharing writing, interactive writing and independent writing. The articles below introduce the seven components and outline strategies for success.

Read Alouds
A Read aloud is when a teacher reads a form of text to students. Read alouds are great because they promote a love of reading, stimulate the imagination, and help students develop vocabulary. It also helps develop active listening skills.
prompt students to apply their knowledge of reading strategies but this technique will expand students belief in their own ability as a reader and gives students the opportunity to practice self-correction.

Guided Reading
During guided reading, a teacher is able to meet the needs of all students. Through this strategy, students are right where they need to be. Guided reading promotes different reading strategies and gives students the opportunity to practice at their own pace and reading skill. A teacher may need to

Shared Reading
During shared reading, a teacher and students read a text together. This helps develop comprehension, develops fluency, phrasing and reading strategies, allows students to see themselves as readers, and provides students with a safe, nonthreatening environment in which they feel comfortable enough to practice familiar and new reading strategies.

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Independent Reading
During independent reading, students get the chance to read independently. This a great strategy because it allows students to choose texts that interest them, promotes reading for enjoyment and information, and because it increases comprehension by allowing them to practice the behaviors of proficient readers.

Modeled/Shared Writing
During this time, the teacher and students collaborate to write something. This strategy is great because it provides model for a variety of writing styles, develops writing strategies and produces text that students can read independently.

Interactive Writing
When writing interactively, the teacher and students compose together using a "shared pen" technique in which students do some of the writing. This technique provides opportunities to brainstorm and plan together, produces written language resources in the classroom and creates opportunities to apply what has been covered.

Independent Writing
During this time, students write independently. This writing strategy helps strengthen text sequence, develops understanding of multiple uses of writing, supports reading and writing development, and develops active independence.

Source: http://schools.alcdsb.on.ca/mart/Curriculum%20Information/Components%20of%20a%20Balanced% 20Literacy%20Program.pdf