Balanced Literacy Components

Read aloud

Implicit modeling of comprehension strategies using Think Aloud techniques.

Shared Reading

Explicit modeling and direct teaching of strategies and skills using instructional text materials.

Phonics/Word Study

Instruction on decoding strategies to help students understand how phonics and words work.

Guided Reading

Helping students orchestrate strategies and skills using the student's instructional reading level.

Literacy Work Stations

Providing students with opportunities to practice authentic literacy activities individually or with a partner.

Independent Reading

Students read a self-selected text and apply learned strategies and skills using a reading response journal.

Writer's Workshop

Students build writing skills, grammar, usage, and writing fluency through authentic and repeated use of the writing process.