Morris School District
Balanced Literacy Handbook
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Table of Contents

Balanced Literacy Mission Statement
What is a Balanced Literacy Program?
Components of a Balanced Literacy Program
Glossary of Terms
Strategies and Skills

Teacher Resources

Assessment - see Assessment Section Appendix A

Author study and sample study

Book club

Book Introduction

Comprehension Strategies ( Key knowledge and aims )

Analyzing text structure ( graphic organizers )
   Narrative
   Expository
   Informational
   Cues and organizers
Determining Importance
Inferring
Making Connections
Questioning
Rereading text
Self Monitoring and Fix ups
Sensory Images
Summarizing
Synthesizing

Comprehension Strategy Study: Literature Response Options

Content Area Reading ( Guidelines and ERT strategy )

Differentiating Instruction

Fluency

Gradual Release of Responsibility

Guided Reading ( and Guided Reading Prompts )

Independent Reading ( Log and comparison to SSR )

KWL charts

Literacy Circles

Paired Reading

Phonics

Phonological and Phonemic Awareness

Questioning as Readers ( Questions associated with comprehension )

QAR ( Question / response ) strategy

Readers Theatre

Reading Log ( Home Reading chart )

Reading Surveys and Interviews ( various forms )

Reading Workshop
Conferencing ( outlines and various forms )
Anecdotal Note Taking ( outline and forms )
Plan sample
Book talk
Narrative Questions
Mini Lesson idea
Responding to Reading Activities

Reciprocal Teaching

Retell, Relate, Reflect ( After reading strategy )

Shared Read a Loud

Silent Reading

Strategic Reading

Thematic Intruction and related Topics of Inquiry

Think a Loud ( Prompts and tips )

What Good Readers do ( Poster strategy and ideas )

Word Walls

Vocabulary Development

Appendix A: Assessment Resources

Assessment Comprehension ( How do we know students get it? )
Letter Recognition ( Duthie Index )
Reading Comprehension- Major Point Interview
Reading Comprehension Strategies Rubric
Reading Miscue Analysis
Reading Oral Fluency
Reading Strategies Student Self Assessment
Retelling Rubric
Reponse to Literature - tracking form
Running Records
San Diego Quick Reading Assessment
Word Awareness ( WAWA )

Appendix B: Further Lesson Ideas
Coding Strategy ( use of post it notes for highlight )
Concept Question Chain ( Questioning reading )
Discussion Webs ( thinking )
Non Fiction Strategy ideas
QAR ( Questioning )
RAFT ( informational text )
Structured Note Taking ( recall and retention )
SQ3R ( Reading Engagement )
Two column Notes ( Prompts for comparisons, links )

Appendix C: Articles and Links

What Every Teacher Should Know About Comprehension