Best+practice

** Best Practices in Literacy Instruction **

**Balanced Literacy:** that all students learn in different way, and literacy instruction needs to have multiple strategies and approaches. It provides students the opportunity to develop and practice their skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking. Instructional components and strategies include:
 * A balanced literacy program is a balance of whole language and phonics instruction that integrates aspects of literacy instruction including: phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics. There is also a balance between reading and writing instruction. This programs has instruction focused on one and then it is taught explicitly. It is taught with the understanding

__Four Types of Reading Experience and Instruction__: Reading Aloud to Students Shared Reading (whole class) Guided Reading (small group) Independent reading

__Four Types of Reading Experience and Instruction__: Shared Writing (whole class) Interactive Writing (whole class) Writer's Workshop (small groups or individual) Independent Writing **

There are few instructional goals in elementary education more important then teaching students how to read and write. Here are the ten researched-based best practice literacy instruction:
 * For Teachers **

**1. Use high-quality literature.**
 * 2. Integrate a comprehensive word study/phonics program into reading/writing instruction.**
 * 3. Use multiple texts that link and expand concepts.**
 * 4. Balance teacher- and student-led discussion.**
 * 5. Build a whole class community that emphasizes important concepts and builds background knowledge.**
 * 6. Work with students in small groups while other students read and write about what they have read.**
 * 7. Give students plenty of time to read in class.**
 * 8. Give students direct instruction in decoding and comprehension strategies that promote independent reading. Balance direct instruction, guided instruction and independent learning.**
 * 9. Use a variety of assessment techniques to form instruction**.

**The University of Connecticut provides an excellent website describing [|Effective Principles of Literacy Instruction].**

[|**The Connecitcut Commission on Children**] **also has an excellent website about literacy and literacy instruction.** 
 * [|The National Institute for Literacy] offers a fantastic website about Birth to Early Childhood, Childhood, and Adolescence Literacy.**