This document provides an overview of best practices for literacy instruction from preschool through 3rd grade. It discusses getting to know students, creating a print-rich classroom, key components of a balanced literacy program, strategies for different ages of literacy development, and approaches such as read alouds, guided reading, independent reading, and assessment. The goal is to understand students and use differentiated instruction during reading blocks to help all children progress in their literacy skills.

2. Knowing your students….
 Diversity/ Cultural Sensitivity
 Abilities
 Interest
 State Standards
 Interviewing/Surveys
 Observations and Conversations
 Show and Tell Activities

3. A Text Rich Room & Selecting Texts
 Bright and Cheerful Library
 Labeled Room
 Labeled Library
 Large Print Books
 Technology
 Word Walls
 Variety of Genres
 Leveled Library

4. Key Components to well balanced Literacy
Instruction…
 Phonics/Phonemic Awareness
 Vocabulary
 Comprehension
 Fluency
 Writing

5. Getting to Know an Emergent
Literacy Learner…
 Birth-PreK
 Explores lots of forms of literacy
 Starts to make connections between real world and
text.
 Start to enjoy creating their own stories through
pictures and words.
 Begin to work on Alphabetical Principal
 Beginning Stages of Writing (Scribbles)

6. Getting to Know a Beginning
Literacy Learner…
 K-2nd Grade
 Learning to read on their own and with help.
 Interest
 Attitude towards reading
 Motivation
 Work on Phonic Skills, Decoding Skills,
Comprehension, and Vocabulary
 Writing Skills

7. Read A loud….
 Read aloud- is a short block of time during reading were the
student is able to access more complex ideas and vocabulary by
listening to a higher language level.
 Benefits- teacher is able to practice and review strategies and
skills with students.
 Students are able to access more in-depth and complex concepts.
 Students are able to access higher order vocabulary.

8. Guided/Shared Reading …
 Guided Reading- is a block of time where small group instruction
is conducted. Teacher is able to meet with students and create
differenated instruction to reinforce concepts and promote
proficiency.
 Benefits- Teacher is able to meet with small group to provide
extra support.
 Teacher is able to differentiate lesson to help student success.
 Students are able to focus on certain concepts.

9. Paired/Independent Reading…
 Paired/ Independent Reading- the block of reading where
teacher allows students to either read level books in pairs or
by themselves. This gives students the opportunity to show
mastery of skills and strategies.
 Benefits- students are able to practice skills and strategies
independently.
 Students are able to show mastery of concepts.
 Provides students an opportunity to read their own books
they are interested in.

10. Literacy Assessment…
 Here are different forms of literacy assessment:
 Diagnostic- teacher collects information on
students knowledge before literacy activity
(activating prior knowledge by read aloud).
 Formative- teacher observes students as they
interact with text (during lesson).
 Summative- students are able to show mastery of a
literacy concept by completing passage and
questions (End of Lesson).

11. An inside look at how I
teach PreK-3rd Grade
Literacy!