What is Balanced Literacy?
As part of our effort to implement a "Balanced Literacy" program in fifth grade, we started a 90-minute Literacy block. During this time our students are working with words (spelling routine), studying word and sentence structure (word work), improving comprehension, fluency, and accuracy (reader's workshop), and working in small groups (guided reading). We also take time to respond to our reading in our Reader's Notebook to integrate writing. In addition to the 90-minute block, writing is taught explicitly and integrated into daily curriculum such as social studies and science.