I believe: Literacy instruction should be based on a comprehensive program that balances reading, writing and word study.

study. Literacy should be diverse in content, culture and genre. Significant time should be spend on each component of literacy ~ approximately 60 minutes in class each day Students should read a minimum of 30 minutes outside of school. Students will develop a passion for reading and writing in my classroom. Students learn best when they are immersed in a literacy-rich environment. Students should be given engaging and authentic opportunities to explore literacy in a way that is meaningful and allows them to construct their own understandings. Students should enjoy and respond to books that reflect on their own personal experiences. Each book should be developmentally appropriate and exemplify worthwhile issues. Books should have a variety of perspectives, encompass a variety of authors, and range in levels. It is imperative to have a diversity of books within the classroom. Literature circles develop a sense of independence for students. Literature circles give students a sense of community and responsibility. Students should have the freedom to choose their own book.

Donalyn Miller has a strong and influential philosophy of literature and she will have an impact on my classroom development.

Fountas and Pinnell provide great instruction on a balanced literacy framework. One on one conferencing is important to assess where a student is developing. In using a variety of levels of reading and writing to communicate ideas of literacy to my students. All my students are readers and writers and will be referred to as just that. The writings the students do may be bound into a class book or the students may write their own books to be placed alongside great authors such as Patricia Polacco in the class library.