Balanced Literacy March Faculty Meeting PD

In this PD presentation (Slides can be found at  http://bit.ly/supportedread ) we discuss and practice the 4 components of balanced literacy. Read on to see how.

Part of close reading is simply writing as you read and being aware when and why to do so. This 9th grader's teacher taught him to be metacognitive and he now keeps this list as he reads.

Our March faculty meeting demo'd the 4 pieces of Balanced literacy according to CMS. Balanced Literacy includes these 4 areas:

1. Word Study- BL says word study makes vocab fun. We used Word Ball to practice and refresh our memory of  RTI terms. (led by Ms. G and Ms. D)
2. Independent Reading -we practiced Independent reading with common core reading standards with Padlet response (led by Ms. Barone)
   
3. Writing - We clarified our ideas by writing them on the puzzle pieces during our centers walk (on display in admin hallway)
   
4. Supported reading - we practiced close reading with a socratic seminar on this selection The Wejr Family Awards : using and the student note and worksheet photos in this post (led by Ms. Gurthie)
   

More and further Reading Choices:

More on Balanced Literacy

• CMS BL  Powerpoint - web cache do a google search to download the one with graphics)
• http://www.k12reader.com/category/balanced-literacy/

More on Close Reading-

• Wendy Adornato recommends this site-very easy to find useful core friendly close reading and other by subject.  http://achievethecore.org/
• Close Reading PDF -including sample chart of a close read of Page 1 of Percy Jackson Lightning Thief
  
• Close Reading PD Student Explanations Video Snippets
  

More on Common Core Reading and writing in general-

• There are a lot of misconceptions about Common Core. I like the way this site breaks down how to teach reading and writing via Common Core.

• Non-Freaked Out Common Core blog (note I think he is too into debate - I prefer shared inquiry, but either way he's a great blogger for laying out common core)
• Recent News after 2 years of implementing common core-what was learned
  
  

• Rationale (why Common Core and balanced literacy are useful) Besides the value to one's life of being able to ask questions and think critically, here are 12 Skills Employers want that Common Core teaches
  
  
  

---

Below is an embed of the article we read for the close reading demo. we annotated electronically using diigo or on paper .

This chart (shared on Facebook) can be useful when close reading in the content area or any nonfiction.