Components of successful reading programs in elementary school?

Question

I need to know what the successful components of an elementary reading program are. Any insight will be appreciated.

Thank you!

Answer 1

Any balanced literacy program includes the six components of literacy, which are:

Vocabulary

Comprehension

Phonemic Awareness

Phonics

Fluency

Writing

You can find several books and websites devoted to each component.

Answer 2

A BALANCED LITERACY PROGRAM. Google it. It is based on a gradual release of responsibility theory. It is most popularly referred to as the " I ( the teacher) do it, We (class and teacher) do it together, You kids do it together (in groups/partners), and lastly, you do it alone" model.

So basically a balanced literacy program would be like a 2 column chart with 4 rows so a total of 8 boxes. On the left column would be the reading side: Read Aloud/Modeled reading, Shared Reading, Guided Reading, and Independent Reading. On the right column would be the writing side: Write Aloud/Modeled writing, shared writing, guided writing, and independent writing.

Ideally, your DAILY schedule needs to have all 8 components. However, this is too ideal because there are other subjects to teach, assemblies to go to, school library to go to, etc. etc. So, in your WEEKLY schedule you need to make sure that you have each of the 8 components of the balanced literacy program are implemented at least three times for each child. Your students will be little geniuses by the end of the year if you create your schedule this way.

Here is a handy website that pops up when you google "balanced literacy program."  

http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats...

Answer 3

I love using the workshop model in reading and writing and the gradual release of responsibility.  

Some authors that have written to this are:

Debbie Miller: Reading with Meaning

Lucy Calkins - Writing

Ellin Keene: Mosaic of Thought

Katie Wood Ray

A successful reading program includes but is not limited to:

Word Study - spelling, vocabulary. Love the program Words Their Way,

Lots of books - quality books of varying levels and genres for kids to read

Kids taught how to pick a just right book

Teacher Conferencing

Small occasional ability groups for kids who need focus on certain skills.

Lots of time for kids to just read! I'm not a big fan of round robin because kids spend so much time waiting their turn.

Reader's Theatre to practice fluency

Teacher modeling, Teacher and Kids work together and Kids practice (gradual release of responsibility model) the reading strategies such as: Schema, Visualizing, Inferencing, Synthesizing, Questioning and Determining Importance.