Balanced Literacy Instruction

Balanced literacy instruction is a "decision-making approach through which teachers make thoughtful and purposeful decisions about how to help students become better readers and writers." (Tompkins, p. 24) A balanced approach is not easy and it requires much effort and planning from the teacher, but it can prove to be very effective and has the potential to work for a high percentage of students. Since a balanced approach is so comprehensive it takes into account all different types of learners which in turn allows students to hopefully find something that works for them. The focus of this approach is equally on reading, phonics, strategies, vocabulary, comprehension, literature, content-area study, oral language, writing, and spelling. I have seen examples of most all of these in my field time. However, I don't spend enough time in class and do not know the curriculum well enough to state whether my CT uses a completely balanced literacy program.

When I have my own classroom I am going to make a concerted effort to have a balanced approach to literacy instruction. This is my goal regardless of the grade level or ability of student that I will be teaching. I think that a balanced approach will give the students the best opportunity for success in their reading and writing. It is easy for me to write all of this now, I only hope that when I do have my own classroom that I am willing and able to put together a literacy program that has students working on a wide variety of skills needed to truly be literate.