My Plan for a Balanced Literacy Program

By: Christen Campbell EDRL 442

Creating a Literacy Environment/Climate

Creating a safe and positive learning environment in my classroom is one of my top priorities because:
It creates a safe place for students to learn Builds a classroom community It helps create a positive atmosphere where questions are welcomed

I can create this by:

Greeting children daily when coming into class Acknowledging hard work Being positive to promote life-long learners Treating all students equally Giving students respect

Assessments
Assessments are important because they: provide basis for instruction provide information for guided reading groups provide information for appropriate text selection Depending on the subject and the student, there are several types of assessments that go beyond formal testing (listed on next slide). Not only will I give vocabulary, spelling and comprehension tests, I also will assess participation, group work and on overall effort. It is important to give students more than one type of assessment because each learner is unique and has their own way of showing what they have leaned.

Assessments continued..
Assessments that I will use: Elementary Spelling Inventory (ESI) DRA Phonemic Awareness Assessment Running Records Class/Group Work Participation With the results of my assessments I will be able to divide students into appropriate reading groups, recognize where some students might need more help and also to see how well students are comprehending material.

Philosophy of Whole Group Instruction

When choosing text for the classroom it is important to: Be mindful of the size of the print and of the pictures. Have a wide variety of books that will appeal to several types of readers Choose books that will allow students to be successful and therefore more motivated in the future Activities I will use that go along with text selection: Picking a just right book and having book talks Sticky notes Read aloud Recommending charts

Philosophy of Whole Group Instruction

Student Interaction is crucial because:
It allows a teacher to assess how well the class is understanding a lesson or topic It can be helpful when having any kind of class discussion Encourages students to discuss what they have learned or read in small groups Allows them to share what is working well and what isnt

In my classroom, students will interacting constantly during group work, literacy stations, projects and during guided, paired and choral reading to name a few.

Philosophy of Whole Group Instruction

Modeling is essential in the classroom because:

It helps students to understand exactly what to do and how to do an assignment or task. Allows students to hear the teacher think aloud Teaches students to speak properly, allowing them to write properly Encourages students to model instructions to their peers Allows students to visualize what they are about to do
I will constantly be modeling strategies to students during guided reading, word study, writing, before literacy stations and before any other assignment given.

Philosophy of Whole Group Instruction

Think alouds are important because teachers can use them for lessons dealing with comprehension, schema, connecting to the text and modeling what meaningful connections are. Text Connections (text to self, text to text, text to world) Comprehension (sitting eye-to-eye and knee-to-knee with partner and discussing) Schema lessons Making meaningful connections Visualizing Activities I would use that go along with think alouds: Anchor Chart Small group work Graphic Organizers for text to text connections Drawing a connection they made

Philosophy of Whole Group Instruction

The Gradual Release Model is a great tool to use because it gives several steps that help a student go from watching to doing it themselves. I do, you watch I do, you help You do, I help You do, I watch I would use this in the classroom by: focusing on one strategy at a time describing and modeling the strategy working together on a text letting the student read silently, but stopping them occasionally allowing students to read independently

What you have learned about Guided Reading, Word Study, and Writing
Guided Reading: Promotes reading strategies Increases comprehension Encourages independent reading Expands belief in own ability Prompts that will be used: Asking questions (comprehension) Giving feedback Demonstrating strategies when needed (chunk the word, use context clues, reread, sound out the word, self-correct) I will use this method in my classroom to: assess how well students are comprehending what they are reading Encourage students attempts at problem solving Teach reading strategies that may be unfamiliar to them

What you have learned about Guided Reading, Word Study, and Writing
Word study components: Phonemic awareness Phonics Vocabulary Spelling I would use the word study bin in class to help students improve on: vowel patterns fluency word sounds word recognition

What you have learned about Guided Reading, Word Study, and Writing
Modeled Writing Teacher demonstrates a writing strategy Shared Writing Students and teacher collaborate to write text Interactive Writing Teacher and students compose text together Guided Writing Teacher works with small groups who have similar strengths and weaknesses Independent Writing Students write independently

Ideas for Literacy Centers or Stations

The Drama Work Station is so versatile and different than any other work station. It can be used for: Retelling a book or play Using props and puppets to retell a story Reading a play with a partner Writing a play Making character cards Working on fluency
Teachers can easily change this station by adding a new story, adding new props and puppets, writing a play as a class and including student made books for retelling. Students can choose every piece that goes with this station from the background, to creating the puppets to being the director.

Ideas for Literacy Centers or Stations continued..

Big Book station is really hands on as well. Students can: Read the book with a partner Put highlighter tape over words they know Point to words as they read Write connections on sticky notes Practice rhyme and rhythm Working on fluency Also allows teacher to:
easily change book, partners, pointers, themes etc. Add a class made big book Add sticky notes and pencils for writing questions related to the big book.

Power of Reflection
Students can share work by: Presenting their project in front of the class Hanging art work on the wall Writing in their journals Modeling their example for another student I will have students reflect by: Writing daily in their journals Writing what they liked and didnt like about a lesson/activity Writing what they would have changed about it Something they learned from the assignment

The Need to Differentiate

Differentiation is important because every student is unique and each student has their own learning style. Word Study allows students who struggle with a certain sound or word family to focus on one thing at time while improving their skills.
Guided Reading groups help students work together to improve on their reading skills

Conferencing with students is important because the teacher gets a chance to talk with a student one on one about how they feel they are doing in class, to find out if they have any concerns or gain knowledge about why a student might be struggling.

Final Slide
The most valuable experience I had during this class was definitely all of the hands on assignments we did. These were the first lessons I have prepared and taught on my own and I learned much more than I expected! I will take with me all of the resources we were given and the knowledge that I gained from this course! Thank you again for such a great class! I hope to be able to take another course with you! : ]