Technology Within a Balanced Literacy Program

1. Technology Within a Balanced Literacy Program Susan A Silverman

2. Components of a Balanced Literacy Program-Reading • Read Aloud: Teacher reads to the class. • Shared Reading: Teacher reads to class, students then join in. • Guided Reading: Teacher introduces a book which students read themselves. • Independent Reading: Students read book alone or with partners.

3. Components of a Balanced Literacy Program-Writing • Modeled/Shared Writing-Teacher and class write text together. The teacher acts as a scribe. • Interactive Writing- Teacher and class write text together using a shared pen technique. • Guided Writing or Writing Workshop- The teacher guides individuals or small groups on the writing process. • Independent Writing-Students write their own text and help each other.Adapted from “Guided Reading” by Fountas & Pinnell

4. Five Rules of Thumb for Maintaining Balance • Teach skills as a way to gain meaning. Skills are not ends in themselves. • Each day, include time for both guided instruction and independent work. Otherwise, students will never internalize skills and make them their own. • Avoid teaching children as if they were empty receptacles for knowledge. Instead, allow them to build knowledge in a process-oriented way.

5. Integrate print and electronic materials effectively. That way, your classroom will reflect the multimedia world in which students live. • Always consider standardized test scores in light of informal assessment data. Encourage parents to do the same. Dorothy S. Strickland, Professor of Education, Rutgers University

6. Integrate Print and Electronic Materials Effectively • Classroom Whole Group Activity • Computer Lab • School Media Center • Classroom Literacy Center

7. Fairy Tale & Folk Tale Cyber Dictionary • Read Aloud • Shared Reading • Guided Reading • Independent Reading • Shared Writing • Interactive Writing • Writing Workshop • Independent Writinghttp://www.op97.k12.il.us/instruct/ftcyber/

8. Kidspired Tales • Grades K-2 • Teacher created activities that can be used in learning centers. • Kidspiration ™ software required • http://www.northcanton.sparcc.org/~ptk1nc/kidspired2002/

9. Graph Goodies • Combines Guided Reading and Math • Literacy Center Resource • http://comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~ssilverman/graphs/

10. Susan Silverman’s Collaborative Learning Model • Can incorporate all components in a Balanced Literacy and Reading program. • Writing activities are modeled for students. • http://kids-learn.org

11. Online Read Aloud Stories • Hiyah.comhttp://www.hiyah.com/main_page.html • Scholastichttp://www.scholastic.com/kids • PBS Kidshttp://pbskids.org/

12. More Online Read Aloud Stories • Children’s Storybooks Onlinehttp://www.magickeys.com/books/ • Alphabet Actionhttp://www.learningplanet.com/act/fl/aact/aact.htm • Sesame Workshophttp://www.sesamestreet.com/

13. Enchanted Learning K-3 • Little Explorers • K-3 Themes • Rebus Rhymes A Center Activity Gold Mine! http://www.enchantedlearning.com

14. Skill Building Center Activities • Words and Pictureshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/index.shtml • Fake Out- Definition Gamehttp://www.eduplace.com/dictionary/ • Fun Brain-Interactive Gameshttp://www.funbrain.com/

15. Kid Pix • Independent Writing and Reading • Shared Writing and Reading • Pocantico Hills Schoolhttp://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/pocantic.html • Informationhttp://www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us/curriculum/kidpix.htm

16. Questions and Answers E-Mailsusansilverman@yahoo.com