This document summarizes a final class project where a group equated the layers of a rainforest to the different aspects of a balanced literacy program. They outlined a program with ground representing state standards, trees representing the five pillars of literacy, leaves representing reading strategies, rocks representing reading and writing instruction models, raindrops representing funding sources, and sunshine representing professional development. Through a presentation, the group was able to explain the connections between each aspect and show what makes a balanced literacy program. This project provided knowledge to develop and evaluate a reading program.

1.
These photos are of our final class project in CI 564. I chose this artifact
to demonstrate my knowledge of the foundations of literacy. As a group we
looked at the layers of the rainforest and equated them to the different aspects
of a balanced literacy program. We were able to outline a program as
follows:
Ground ‐ State Standards
Trees – 5 Pillars (Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Comprehension,
Vocabulary and Fluency).
Leaves – Reading Strategies
Rocks‐ Instruction for Reading and Writing (Modeled, Shared,
Guided, Independent)
Raindrops – Sources of Funding
Sunshine – Professional Development

2. Through a verbal presentation we were able to explain what aspects make a
balanced literacy program. We were able to show the connections of each
piece of a literacy program to each other.
This project provided me with the knowledge and understanding to develop
and evaluate a reading program. I will know what in my teaching is missing
and make changes to meet my student’s academic needs.