Balanced Literacy in Kindergarten

Carol Vaage – Feb. 10, 2005

1. Balanced Literacy Model: http://www.learningtoread.ecsd.net/balanced%20literacy%20model.htm

·        Guided Reading; Guided Writing – small group; homogenous groups

·        Independent Reading; Independent Writing – charts, predictable stories, home reading; Journals, play area writing prompts, representing through media

·        Projects – Art, Music, Drama presentations

·        Shared Reading; Shared Writing – poetry; brainstorming; thank you letters

·        Read Aloud – large group – book language; think-aloud strategies (http://www.learningtoread.ecsd.net/read%20alouds.htm) ;  making connections to other stories, to life.

·        Modelled Writing – large group; small group specialized focus

·        Word Work – phonemic awareness; word games; rhyming; word wall; key words

·        Direct Instruction – letter formation; l-r; pencil grip; individual projects

2. Kindergarten Literacy Web Site – http://www.kinderlit.ecsd.net

·        Ideas to use throughout the year – poems, books, songs

·        Kindergarten Literacy Centers – titles, descriptions

·        Parent Brochure on Reading

·        Hand-out for Home Reading (Journey Into Reading) program        

3.  Learning to Read – http://www.learningtoread.ecsd.net

·        Parent role in literacy development

·        Stages of Writing

·        Alberta Curriculum expectations

·        Read-Alouds in the Classroom – Think-Aloud Strategies

·        Glossary

·        Model for Balanced Literacy Instruction

4. Learning to Write – http://www.learningtowrite.ecsd.net

·        Kindergarten writing centers and strategies

·        Beginning to Write Rubrics

·        6-Trait Writing Assessment for beginning writers

·        Writing growth; stages

·        Marie Clay’s principles of writing

·        Writing process

·        Spelling Stages

·        Purposes for Writing

5. Early Literacy - http://www.earlyliterature.ecsd.net/

·        Poetry Resource – hundreds of poems

·        Summaries of research; classroom implications; strategies

·        Parent information (roots metaphor)

·        Predictable Book list

6. Literature for Literacy (phonemic awareness) - http://www.literatureforliterature.ecsd.net/

·        Books to use with different letters

·        List of Rhyming books, Alliteration, …

·        Strategies for teaching phonemic awareness

7. K-3 Learning Pages List Serve and Internet Site Resource –
    http://www.k-3learningpages.net

·        Listing of collected web sites appropriate for gr. K-3 – literacy

a.      List of authors/illustrators sites

b.     Alphabet resources

c.      Writing resources

d.      Online books

e.      Book ideas

·        List of telecollaborative projects I’ve created with other teachers.

·        Online games for kids (NetSteps)

·        Clip Art links good for creating kids’ materials; newsletters