This Is Balanced Literacy, Grades K-6

Students learn to read and write best when their teachers balance literacy instruction. But how do you strike the right balance of skills and knowledge, reading and writing, small and whole group instruction, and direct and dialogic instruction, so that all students can learn to their maximum potential?

The answer lies in the intentional design of learning activities, purposeful selection of instructional materials, evidence-based teaching methods, and in strategic groupings of students based on assessment data. Together, these create the perfect balance of high impact learning experiences that engage and excite learners. In this hands-on essential guide, best-selling authors Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Nancy Akhavan help you define that balance for your students, lighting the path to implementing balanced literacy in your classroom. Their plan empowers you to integrate evidence-based approaches that include:

• Instructional materials comprised of both informational and narrative texts.
• The best uses of instructional delivery modes, including direct and dialogic instruction.
• Grouping patterns that work best to accomplish learning aims for different learners at different stages.
• Instruction in foundational skills and meaning making, including oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.
• Technology used as a tool for increasing learning of a specific literary process.

All the tips and tools you need to realise the goal of balanced literacy learning are included, with classroom videos that show strategies in action. Tap your intuition, collaborate with your peers, and put the research-based strategies embedded in this roadmap to work in your classroom to implement or deepen a strong, successful balanced literacy program. Grow as a reading and writing teacher while leading your students to grow as readers and writers.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Defining Balance, Finding Balance

Chapter 2 - Whole Class Reading Instruction: High-Level Support for Learning

Chapter 3 - Whole Class Writing Instruction: High-Level Support for Learning

Chapter 4 - Collaborative Reading and Writing: Learning in the Company of Peers

Chapter 5 - Small Group Reading Instruction: Targeted Support Through Guided Learning

Chapter 6 - Small Group Writing Instruction: Targeted Support Through Guided Learning

Chapter 7 - Independent Reading: Practicing, Applying, and Extending Learning

Chapter 8 - Independent Writing Instruction: Practicing, Applying, and Extending Learning

Chapter 9 - Assessment and Intervention in the Balanced Literacy Classroom: Noticing and Responding to Students' Needs

"These authors (if more than you!) have brilliantly synthesized evidence-based best practices for quality instruction - breaking down the complexities of a balanced literacy classroom and aligning excellent instruction with formative assessment to meet the needs of all learners.  This resource exemplifies the distinguished practices of Danielson’s framework and makes it digestible as a tool for classroom teachers in planning and implementing a balanced literacy approach sure to yield tangible achievement results!"
- Lura A. Hanks, Supervisor for English Language Arts and Social Studies, Washington County Public Schools

"Balanced literacy means different things to different people. In This Is Balanced Literacy, Fisher, Frey, and Akhavan take a research-based, best-practices look at what balanced literacy can and should be. Readers will leave with loads of practices and ideas to fine-tune every aspect of their balanced literacy curriculum to truly maximize student learning!"
- Wiley Blevins, Author A Fresh Look At Phonics, ILA Leadership Brief: Meeting the Challenges of Early Literacy Phonics Instruction