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Learners in the Literacy Environment

Concepts To Incorporate into the Literacy Environment

  • Cross curricular literacy 

    • Greater connection between academic concepts and real life  

    • Encourages evaluation and analysis of text 

    • Spurs desire to read and consume knowledge 

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  • Oral language skills 

    • Foundation of literacy development and human connection

      • Talking is essential to developing relationships

      • Social skills are strengthened through talking 

    • Talking through new concepts with others often aids in understanding of that concept 

    • collaboration/group work is impossible without communication  

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  • Importance of listening in the classroom

    • More directions are given than information

    • Success in school = listening and understanding what to do and when to do it 

      • Students must be given clear and proper directions in order to accomplish a task

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Writing Environment 

  • Classrooms should be a place that supports writing 

    • Many writing issues students face come from the fear of failure or disengagement 

    • To combat this, students should be able to writing about things that they are passionate about, to find pleasure in the process that will make writing enjoyable

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  • How to ensure excellent writers 

    • Teacher needs to demonstrate that they are the writer, who writes with an audience in mind 

    • Encourage students to write about topics they are interested in and give them time to talk about their topics and then write about them 

    • Teach strategies to draft, revise, edit and publish 

    • Making writing real!

      • Publish it to newspaper 

      • Do a poetry slam 

      • Author’s chair 

      • Make a real audience 

    • Spend less time on spelling and grammar, and let students just write 

    • Always give a context to writing 

    • Allow students to write in all subjects

Reading Environment 

  • Classrooms should be a place that supports reading 

    • In classroom libraries should have an abundance of books that students can read at any time

    • Books should include many perspectives (not just a eurocentric view) 

      • We want student to be able to see themselves in a book 

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  • How to ensure ferocious readers 

    • Encourage students to read books that they enjoy, even if they are above their reading level

    • Have books in the classroom that students will enjoy reading

      • Continually update classroom library with books with students interests in mind 

    • Give students many opportunities to explore the classroom library to find books that interest them

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Supporting Vulnerable/Struggling Readers

  • Keep students engaged and in the classroom

    • Ensure instructions are clear

    • Make learning FUN

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  • Shift mindset 

    • Think about how you, as the teacher, can support learning and growth 

    • Not, how difficult a child is to work with  

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  • Use multiple modes and media

    • Vary experiences 

      • Field trips

      • Guest speakers 

      • Teach outside

    • Have students listen to fluent readers (doesn’t have to be the teacher)  

      • E-books

      • Picture books 

      • Guided reading 

    • Increase literacy time 

      • Do this at important times in the year (September, November, January) and after breaks 

      • Use this extra time to focus on specific outcomes or strengthen important concepts

    • Very helpful for students who just need more time/doses 

    • Avoid Isolated concepts 

      • Students are not always able to apply isolated concepts into everyday life and reading 

      • Often, concepts are better retained and applied when they are taught within a context 

    • Match reading materials with learners

      • Encourage reading excitement with text that they are interested in 

      • Find books that are at an appropriate level 

        • Too hard and students will get frustrated 

        • Too easy and students will get bored

Literacy Block Schedule 

  • Modelled and shared instruction 

    • Whole class

    • 5-15 mins

  • Guided instruction and independent practice 

    • Small groups and/or individual instruction 

    • 30 - 60 mins (build up stamina for independent reading) 

  • Closure 

    • Whole class 

    • Sharing, reflection and consolidation of learning 

    • 5-10 mins

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