Balanced Literacy
Mason-Rice’s extensive literature and language arts program builds upon the rich language experiences that all children bring to the classroom. Their prior experiences lay the foundation for formal reading and writing instruction. We strive to provide extensive language development opportunities to help children develop a love of reading and writing and lifelong reading and writing behaviors. We implement a variety of structures to differentiate instruction for all learners and to meet their individual needs. We use a balance of whole group, small group, and individual instruction to support all learners. Our literacy program includes phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension instruction.
Components
Guided Reading:
* Small and flexible group instruction using instructional level texts that children can read with 90-94% accuracy
* Focus on comprehension strategies, phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency
Shared Reading and Writing:
* Class reading of stories, songs, and poems
* Children follow the text and are invited to read and sing along
* During shared writing, students work together to create and read texts
* Focus on developing concepts about print, comprehension strategies, phonics, and fluency
Read Aloud:
* Teacher reads picture books, poetry, and chapter books to whole class
* Focus on story enjoyment and comprehension strategies
Independent Reading and Writing:
* During independent reading, students read books at their independent levels (95-100% accuracy)
* During writing workshop, students draw and write about self-selected topics. Teachers confer with students during independent reading and writing to provide individual instruction
* Focus on fluency, comprehension strategies, process writing
Directed Writing:
* Students write about topics as directed by teacher
* Students might respond to a story, observe and write about our rotting log habitat, complete a research project, write about their learning in math, or write a thank you letter to a special person
* Occurs in all curriculum areas
* Focus on writing different genres, organization, and craft of writing
Word Study:
* During whole class, small group, and individual instruction, students learn about how words work
* Students experience regular and explicit phonics, spelling, and phonemic awareness instruction through the Wilson Fundations program
* Focus on phonemic awareness, spelling, vocabulary, and phonics
Handwriting:
* Our handwriting program, Handwriting Without Tears, helps children learn proper pencil grip and correct formation of uppercase and lowercase letters
[Image:mvc-007_thumb2.jpg]
Balanced Literacy
Mason-Rice’s extensive literature and language arts program builds upon the rich language experiences that all children bring to the classroom. Their prior experiences lay the foundation for formal reading and writing instruction. We strive to provide extensive language development opportunities to help children develop a love of reading and writing and lifelong reading and writing behaviors. We implement a variety of structures to differentiate instruction for all learners and to meet their individual needs. We use a balance of whole group, small group, and individual instruction to support all learners. Our literacy program includes phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension instruction.
Components
Guided Reading:
* Small and flexible group instruction using instructional level texts that children can read with 90-94% accuracy
* Focus on comprehension strategies, phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency
Shared Reading and Writing:
* Class reading of stories, songs, and poems
* Children follow the text and are invited to read and sing along
* During shared writing, students work together to create and read texts
* Focus on developing concepts about print, comprehension strategies, phonics, and fluency
Read Aloud:
* Teacher reads picture books, poetry, and chapter books to whole class
* Focus on story enjoyment and comprehension strategies
Independent Reading and Writing:
* During independent reading, students read books at their independent levels (95-100% accuracy)
* During writing workshop, students draw and write about self-selected topics. Teachers confer with students during independent reading and writing to provide individual instruction
* Focus on fluency, comprehension strategies, process writing
Directed Writing:
* Students write about topics as directed by teacher
* Students might respond to a story, observe and write about our rotting log habitat, complete a research project, write about their learning in math, or write a thank you letter to a special person
* Occurs in all curriculum areas
* Focus on writing different genres, organization, and craft of writing
Word Study:
* During whole class, small group, and individual instruction, students learn about how words work
* Students experience regular and explicit phonics, spelling, and phonemic awareness instruction through the Wilson Fundations program
* Focus on phonemic awareness, spelling, vocabulary, and phonics
Handwriting:
* Our handwriting program, Handwriting Without Tears, helps children learn proper pencil grip and correct formation of uppercase and lowercase letters
[Image:mvc-007_thumb2.jpg]
Balanced Literacy
Mason-Rice’s extensive literature and language arts program builds upon the rich language experiences that all children bring to the classroom. Their prior experiences lay the foundation for formal reading and writing instruction. We strive to provide extensive language development opportunities to help children develop a love of reading and writing and lifelong reading and writing behaviors. We implement a variety of structures to differentiate instruction for all learners and to meet their individual needs. We use a balance of whole group, small group, and individual instruction to support all learners. Our literacy program includes phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension instruction.
Components
Guided Reading:
* Small and flexible group instruction using instructional level texts that children can read with 90-94% accuracy
* Focus on comprehension strategies, phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency
Shared Reading and Writing:
* Class reading of stories, songs, and poems
* Children follow the text and are invited to read and sing along
* During shared writing, students work together to create and read texts
* Focus on developing concepts about print, comprehension strategies, phonics, and fluency
Read Aloud:
* Teacher reads picture books, poetry, and chapter books to whole class
* Focus on story enjoyment and comprehension strategies
Independent Reading and Writing:
* During independent reading, students read books at their independent levels (95-100% accuracy)
* During writing workshop, students draw and write about self-selected topics. Teachers confer with students during independent reading and writing to provide individual instruction
* Focus on fluency, comprehension strategies, process writing
Directed Writing:
* Students write about topics as directed by teacher
* Students might respond to a story, observe and write about our rotting log habitat, complete a research project, write about their learning in math, or write a thank you letter to a special person
* Occurs in all curriculum areas
* Focus on writing different genres, organization, and craft of writing
Word Study:
* During whole class, small group, and individual instruction, students learn about how words work
* Students experience regular and explicit phonics, spelling, and phonemic awareness instruction through the Wilson Fundations program
* Focus on phonemic awareness, spelling, vocabulary, and phonics
Handwriting:
* Our handwriting program, Handwriting Without Tears, helps children learn proper pencil grip and correct formation of uppercase and lowercase letters