Available Courses: Balanced Literacy

Introduction to Balanced Literacy 1: The Reader’s Workshop
Balanced Literacy is an approach whose goal is to develop lifelong readers and thinkers. It exposes students to the habits of good readers by interacting with many genres and styles of literature. Components of balanced literacy, including the reader’s and writer’s workshop models, will be explored. Creating effective mini-lessons, grouping students appropriately, and planning effective guided reading lessons will be an integral part of the course.

Introduction to Balanced Literacy 2: Assessing Readers
Participants will learn how to create a classroom environment that supports effective literacy instruction for all learners. Both formal and informal assessment instruments will be examined, including running records and the use of miscue analysis to interpret students’ use of the cueing system. Teachers will learn the importance of conducting meaningful conferences to drive instruction.

Balanced Literacy 3: The Writer’s Workshop
The Workshop Model, a model for both reading and writing, contains a three-part structure: the mini-lesson, independent/small group work, and a share session. In the writer’s workshop, time is devoted each day to the process of writing. Students learn how to write by writing. Although this sounds simplistic, the workshop model structures the lessons by providing numerous opportunities for students to see modeled writing, be guided with structured writing, and to apply their skills through independent writing. These stages of interactive writing promote literacy.

Balanced Literacy 4: Building a Community of Writers
Participants will learn how to create a classroom environment that is conducive to writing and supports effective writing instruction for all learners, including struggling writers and English Language Learners. The continuum of skills that good writers possess will be reviewed. As they experience the writing process, participants will create a piece of their own writing. This self-guided course is designed for you, as a writer, to have fun and learn to focus on the skills that you will transfer to your students.