About the Book
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 realize 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
References
About the Author :
Douglas Fisher is professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Doug was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. He is a credentialed English teacher and administrator in California. In 2022, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame by the Literacy Research Association. He has published numerous articles on reading and literacy, leadership, and curriculum design, as well as books such as The Teacher Clarity Playbook (2nd ed.), Your Introduction to PLC+, The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Credibility, Instructional Strategies to Move Learning Forward: 50+ Tools That Support Gradual Release of Responsibility, and Welcome to Teaching!
Nancy Frey is a professor in educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. She is a credentialed special educator, reading specialist, and administrator in California. She is a member of the International Literacy Association’s Literacy Research Panel. Her published titles include 50 Strategies for Activating Your PLC+, The Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning, Welcome to Teaching Multilingual Learners, Teaching Foundational Skills to Adolescent Readers, and RIGOR Unveiled: A Video-Enhanced Flipbook to Promote Teacher Expertise in Relationship Building, Instruction, Goals, Organization, and Relevance.
Dr. Nancy Akhavan, Ed. D. has spent more than 35 years as an educator and consultant. Dr. Akhavan is the founder of Nancy Akhavan Consulting, Inc. She recently retired from Fresno State as an Associate Professional Emerita. Dr. Akhavan has been a bilingual teacher, principal of three schools, and a district administrator of a large urban district for ELA, math, social studies, science and world languages. She also served as Assistant Superintendent Secondary Division in a large urban school district. Dr. Akhavan is recognized for her expertise in teaching literacy practices and has published thirteen books that focus on literacy instruction that increases student achievement She has worked with districts and county offices in multiple states and internationally to increase student achievement in reading, writing, and in content areas. She continues to provide professional development for leaders and teachers in literacy K-12, early literacy, content area literacy and English language development.
Review :
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!
"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!"
