How will you Create a Balanced Literacy Program?

For one, I must be conscious of the notion that all of my students are individual learners and therefore I should create lessons that cater to all learners. I will create balanced reading instruction that combines phonics instruction to whole-language which will accommodate to the individual learner. Phonics will be used as a base for comprehension and for literature-based expression. I will also implement a program where literacy is practiced in a variety of environments. Not only must literacy be practiced in the classroom, it should also be present at home and in the library. I will create a program that gets the parents involved with providing a balanced literacy program and invite frequent communication between the parent and teacher. I will balance literacy within my classroom through the use of structured literacy activities such as read alouds, guided reading, partner reading and independent reading. Research suggests that in order to create a literacy balanced classroom, teachers must implement a structured, uninterrupted time each day for reading. I will provide scaffolded instruction as well as several opportunities for reading, writing and discussion. Finally, I will find opportunities throughout my entire curriculum to implement reading and writing so the two are not restricted to just a specific time each day.