Literacy and the New Teacher

Ontario Teachers Federation

What the Early Reading Strategy Says

“A child’s success in school and throughout life depends in large part on the ability to read. Educators in Ontario have the profound challenge of making reading a reality for all children.”

Early Reading Strategy – the Report of the Expert Panel on Early Reading in Ontario 2003 (page 1)

What the Research Says

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A major consensus of research is that the ability of teachers to deliver good reading instruction is the most powerful factor in determining how well children learn to read.

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Early Reading Panel Report has identified the best knowledge currently available to guide teachers in early reading instruction

Early Reading Strategy – the Report of the Expert Panel on Early Reading in Ontario 2003 (page 4)

What All Teachers Need to Know

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The goals of reading instruction

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What constitutes the best early literacy practices

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How to build knowledge and expertise – working collaboratively

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Appropriate assessment practices that informs classroom practice

Goals of Literacy Instruction •

Fluency

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Comprehension

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Motivation

Read Aloud/Modeled Reading Shared Reading Modeled Writing Shared Writing Phonics & Word Study

Read Aloud/Modeled Reading Shared Reading Modeled Writing Shared Writing Guided Reading Guided Writing Independent Reading Phonics & Word Study Independent Writing

Junior and Intermediate Instruction •

Focus of instruction:

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Reading to learn – developing strategic readers and writers

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Writing as a vehicle for thinking and reflecting and responding to reading

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Cross-curricular connections

“ Using reading and writing together in harmonious concert enables learners to draw on these complementary processes at the same time they work to construct meaning.”

Fountas and Pinnell 2002, vi

Developing Strategic Readers

What are reading strategies?

“Strategies are problem-solving procedures that students choose and use consciously.” Thompkins,G. E. 1997. Literacy for the 21 st Century

Reading and Comprehension Strategies

Before

Making connections:

 Tapping prior knowledge  Predicting  Visualizing  Asking questions

During

Self-Monitoring:

 Repairing comprehension  Making connections  Predicting  Visualizing  Asking questions  Determining and organizing important ideas  Drawing inferences  Synthesizing  Evaluating

After

 Making connections  Asking questions  Determining and organizing important ideas  Drawing inferences  Synthesizing 

Evaluating

Comprehension Strategies

1. Making Connections – Tapping Prior Knowledge 2. Asking Questions 3. Predicting 4. Creating Visual and Other Sensory Images 5. Synthesizing 6. Determining Importance

Comprehension Strategies - Making Connections

– This reminds me of… – It made me think of… – I read another book where…

Writing Instruction – Skill Lessons

Instructing students about:

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Conventions of writing

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Grammar, syntax, punctuation

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Spelling

Writing Instruction – Craft Lessons

Instructing students about: –

Techniques and styles of writing

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Use of language

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Genres and forms of literature

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The qualities of good writing

Using Voice in writing

Learning Conditions that Promote Good Writing

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Regular large blocks of time

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Direct instruction

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An accepting, encouraging environment

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Interacting with quality literature

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Authentic purpose for writing

Student Reading/ Writing To With By Type of Reading

Teacher Read Aloud Shared Reading Guided Reading Novel Studies Literature Circles Independent Reading

Type of Writing

Teacher Think Aloud Shared Writing Guided Writing Independent Writing

Amount of Support

High Low

Advice

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Plan both for the short-term and the long term with a focus on literacy

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Design a multi year professional learning plan that will allow you to acquire additional knowledge and skills

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Seek out a community of professional learners

Advice

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Engage in a variety of learning opportunities, both individual and collaborative, that are integrated into practice for the benefit of student learning

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Build in time for reflection in order to learn from your experience