Literacy+Block+Structure

= The Literacy Block Needs Technological Rewiring. =
 * The structure offers stability by moving from dependence to independence based on the learners' needs.
 * The structure offers fluidity in that the overlap and pacing can be adjusted for different groups of students and individual students.

= = = Critical Elements of the Literacy Block =

Independent Reading

 * ==== I provide at least 20 minutes per day of silent, in-class reading. ====
 * ==== I conference with each student as a reader during this 20 minute period. During this time, each student and I track: ====
 * book(s) he/she is reading
 * the Accelerated Reading level of the book(s) & overall progress toward meeting his/her AR goal
 * whether he/she is enjoying the book(s)
 * questions he/she has about the book

= Novel Studies  =
 * ==== Our first 1st semester novel studies take place during read-aloud time. ====
 * ==== Our 2nd semester novel studies take the place of our read-aloud time; although, we still read-aloud part of this time with the novel. ====
 * ==== I use novel studies to: ====
 * pre-teach and reinforce reading comprehension and literary concepts learned in direct reading instruction
 * promote the reading of high-quality literature and the work of master authors
 * build a classroom culture of reading and discussion
 * verbally do the difficult work of responding to literature

= Literature Circles  =
 * ==== We begin literature circles when all pre-planned reading comprehension skills have been explicitly taught/reinforced. ====
 * ==== Literature circles provide the in-depth, student-driven discussion of literature and novels. ====
 * These circles reinforce each student as a reader who leads and contributes to a rich discussion.

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