Literacy

Literacy instruction follows a workshop model. First the teacher conducts a focus lesson on a given strategy (whole class). Students are then asked to share with a partner how he/she might employ the skill/strategy in his/her own reading/writing. The teacher then dismisses children to their independent reading or writing spot. While the students are reading their “just right” books the teacher confers with a small group and/or individual children. The last part of the workshop includes a whole group share by three or four students, reporting on their reading/writing during independent reading.

Classrooms are well stocked with books appropriate for each grade level. There are also shelves of multiple copies of books for small group strategy instruction. The LHS library is kept up-to-date with recent titles added monthly. And, there are several bins of mentor texts categorized by comprehension strategy or writer’s craft that are used for focus lessons.

K - 3 classrooms also employ the decoding/encoding/handwriting program, Fundations. In grade 4 and 5 we use Words Their Way. We also have staff members who are trained in Wilson Reading/Language Systems who provide instruction for those students needing more discrete skill instruction.