A balanced literacy block is a must have for every classroom.
It should be simple to execute, student-driven, and involve the students with meaningful activities that contribute to them becoming readers and writers.
My literacy block is specifically planned out to include meaningful and authentic literacy activities. This creates a balanced literacy model. Students spend most of their time actually reading, not listening to me teach. Students are self-reliant, independent and on-task.
What About Using Basal Readers in a Literacy Block?
Although most of my teaching reading strategies happens during guided reading time, I do utilize whole group instruction. My district requires the use of an adopted basal text. This instruction time is separate from my literacy block.
Sometimes reading homework is a worksheet based on a strategy we have been working on (but not usually - I want parents and kids to be reading together, not fighting over a worksheet)
We read the basal story together and with a buddy two days per week
I teach a specific reading strategy from the basal one day per week(but I do ignore the worksheets for the most part)
We take a weekly comprehension test from the basal story every Friday (of course they can use the book - it's a reading test, not a memory test!)
This is not, however, my core literacy block. If you think this already sounds like it takes a lot of time, you're right. 90 minutes per day for your core literacy block and all of that other stuff in addition to it. But remember that reading is the most fundamental of all tasks and without good skills, your students will fail. Those kids that are already behind have to have double the amount of reading instruction, and even then you will be fortunate if they reach grade level at the end of the year.
Creating a Literacy Block
Teachers need to be creating independent readers and writers. Students need lots of opportunities to become readers and writers, not writing on worksheets and doing centers that do not contribute to this goal.
I use reciprocal teaching every day in guided reading groups and a book that is like a Bible for my classroom:
1. Train your students Just as you would for classroom management, you will need to train your students how to read independently and with a buddy. You will need to train them to check for understanding, how to manage their work independently, and build their stamina for extended periods of reading, writing, word work and listening to stories.
I use the entire month of September to train my students for our literacy block. It is not a waste of time - after this I no longer have to redirect students and micro-manage my class: I am free to work with small groups while the other students are engaged in meaningful literacy activities.
2. Read To Self Read to Self is when the children read to themselves with books that they choose. The method of choosing books themselves is detailed in The Daily Five and it is called "I PICK." This is essential to the success of the literacy block, as students must be able to read independently for 20+ minutes, choose books they want to read, and are at a level they can read successfully.
"The best way to become a better reader is to practice each day, with books you choose on your just-right reading level. It soon becomes a habit," (The Daily Five).
3. Read With A Buddy Read with a buddy is a time when students can practice the reading strategies you have taught with each other. The students get to choose who they read with, which allows for fluency work and checking for understanding. Again, they do this for at least 20 minutes.
4. Listen to Reading Children need to hear fluent reading and expression. My students listen to stories on tape and on the computer (online or with a CD) and they follow along in the text. A great selection of online stories can be found at Short Stories to Read Online. You could also do this by downloading stories onto MP3 players. Not only does this provide modeling of good reading, it will also expand your students' vocabulary.
5. Work on Writing Students must write every day during a literacy block. They can write whatever they choose, but I provide options to help them, such as a jar of story starters or creative writing ideas. Most often they write stories that are similar to ones we have read in class, which tells me I am doing a great job teaching story elements and making my read alouds engaging.
6. Working with Words This element of the literacy block is where students work on their spelling lists or word wall words. I have magnetic letters available, Wikki Stix, stamps, markers and wipe-off boards. I have found that they like to work with a buddy to practice their word work. Fine with me, as we know learning becomes more accessible when it is pleasurable!
Wait a minute - I haven't had the students do a worksheet yet for a grade! That's right. I only want them working on real stuff, and a worksheet isn't it. Not here in my literacy block. As well, I really do not want or need to grade a lot of papers to know how my students are doing. I do assign them occasionally (parents do like to see graded papers come home), but I know how my children are growing. How?
7. Teacher Table This is where I will meet with small groups for a specific guided reading purpose. While all of the other students are actively engaged in working on their literacy skills, I get to have quality time with small groups. The lessons are planned, specific skills are worked on, and I meet with some kids more often than others. I meet with them when they need it.
However, I definitely meet with all students at least one time per week. Why? I will never forget how I felt when my son was in a class where the teacher never met with him.
Why didn't she? He is a good reader who doesn't need interventions. It was as if he was being punished for doing well. I wanted him to grow as a reader, and he should have been enriched, not just left to the side.
So meet with all of your students, but do meet with your special needs more often.
Create a balanced literacy model in your classroom by using The Daily Five to base your own literacy block on. You will be amazed at the growth your students will show.
to base your own literacy block on. You will be amazed at the growth your students will show.
