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Academics > Reading Resource Teachers > Cassie Gralish > What is Balanced Literacy?

Balanced Literacy Framework
A Balanced Literacy Framework focuses on the five key components of reading instruction (Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension) through Interactive Read-Alouds, Shared Readings, Word Study, Strategy Groups, Guided Reading Groups, and Reader’s Workshop or independent reading.  The MN Academic Standards in reading are always central to the work in a Balanced Literacy Framework.
 
In a Reading Workshop, your child’s language arts program provides opportunities to participate in reading as “real readers” do. It also allows us as teachers the opportunity to tailor instruction for each reader in the class by matching the appropriate text to each reader.  Research supports that the amount of independent reading time children experience in school is related to gains in reading achievement. Independent reading is also a major source of vocabulary growth and reading fluency.
 
A balanced reading program with quality instruction involves many elements. In the Reading Workshop, students have an opportunity to:
  • Listen to and respond to good literature.
  • Participate in individual and small-group reading instruction and read individually and or/with other children.
  • Select material at the appropriate level and to have reading choice
  • Participate in lessons on reading strategies.
  • Focus on comprehension.
  • Integrate reading and writing activities.
  • Communicate with the teacher and other readers about their reading
  • Read from various genres of literature such as realistic fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc…
 
We believe that the ultimate goal in reading is to develop not only confident and skilled readers, but also readers who truly enjoy reading. As part of the schoolwide model, the reading homework each night will be for your child to read 20 minutes.  In addition, the traditional weekly spelling work of pre-test and post-test will be more focused on word work (prefixes, suffixes, root words) and vocabulary development rather than spelling tests.
 
We appreciate your continued involvement in your child’s reading. We will be communicating with you often throughout the school year as we encourage your child to read with power, intention, and joy. 
 
Sincerely,
OH Anderson Teachers