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English Language Arts Instruction: Balanced Literacy Through the Workshop Model
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The Balanced Approach to Literacy provides authentic opportunities for all students to learn, practice, and apply the skills they need to become fully literate individuals, capable of lifelong learning.
Why a Balanced Approach to Literacy?
The Common Core Standards describe a literate graduate as someone who:
- Demonstrates independence
- Builds strong content knowledge
- Responds to varying demands of the audience, task, purpose, and discipline
- Comprehends as well as critiques
- Values evidence
- Uses technology and digital technology strategically and capably
- Understands other perspectives and cultures
Meeting this ambitious vision requires a shift in literacy instruction and curriculum. Activity-based instruction of isolated skills from a scripted teacher’s manual is not sufficient.
What is a Balanced Approach to Literacy?
A Balanced Approach to Literacy instruction occurs within six interdependent components taught throughout the school week:
- Reading Workshop
- Writing Workshop
- Shared or Close Reading
- Interactive Read Aloud
- Interactive/Shared Writing
- Word Study
These six components are interwoven in order to balance learning to read with reading to learn.
Contact Us
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Elementary Literacy Department
1108 Bissell Ave.,
Richmond, CA 94801Sonja Bell
Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
SLBell@wccusd.netKate Gliksman
Program Assistant-Central Literacy Coach
kgliksman@wccusd.net
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Balanced Literacy Tools for Teachers
Find instructional tools and professional development resources for elementary teachers.