Literacy
Research Foundations
of a Comprehensive Literacy Program
Best Practices in Literacy Instruction
The literate citizen of the 21st Century uses language not only as a tool for communication, but also as a process for gaining knowledge. A comprehensive literacy classroom provides and cultivates the skills of reading, writing, thinking, speaking and listening for all students while recognizing and respecting their cultural, ethnic and academic diversity. Reading and Writing are dynamic processes of constructing and creating meaning through the interaction involving the prior knowledge of the reader and writer, the text being read or created and the environment. These processes require thinking, monitoring a classroom and adjusting strategies appropriately. Comprehensive Literacy supports teachers as they prepare students for this challenge of becoming literate. Comprehensive Literacy includes components, mental models of research in teaching and learning, a foundation of effective professional development and exciting instructional materials. Comprehensive Literacy is an approach, not a philosophy or a program.
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APPROACH |
PROGRAM |
There is no specific manual that guides teachers through a step by step procedural process. |
A teacher's manual guides the sequence of instruction. |
Materials for instruction are from various publishers and resources. |
Everything to teach, including instructional materials, comes in the package. |
The teachers is trained to be the expert by developing his or her depth of understanding in the reading process, learning theory, and brain-based instructional practices, as well as by being immersed in exemplary models of instruction. |
The package is designed to be "teacher-proof." Teachers are expected to follow the directions. |
Teachers are trained to think deeply about their instructional practices, utilize an ongoing performance assessment to guide their instruction. and collaborate with their peers as they continuously improve their craft. |
Questions and activities are not designed to facilitate high levels of cognition in teachers or students. Literal comprehension is the norm. |
Materials are shared in a "Literacy Center," therefore, there are numerous resources for all levels of readers |
Limited intervention materials are usually included. Teachers need to structure the time and processes to use these materials effectively. |
Teachers receive ongoing support as they implement Comprehensive Literacy to address the needs of all learners. |
A program includes a minimal amount of training. This training usually focuses on "how to follow the directions or script". |
Teachers are empowered with information, research and plethora of effective teaching strategies that can be used as needed. |
Teachers are enabled by making them dependent upon predetermined materials and methodology. |
Comprehensive Literacy Approach
Combining the best we currently know about instruction (based on research) to improve student achievement in literacy. |
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Research Foundations of a Comprehensive LIteracy Program (.pdf)