• English Language Arts 

  • Harper-Archer Elementary School uses Pearson ReadyGen for the ELA core curriculum, with supplemental support from FUNdations Phonics, Orton Gillingham, Write Score, Scholastic Books, and Achieve 3000.

    7 Components of a Strong Balanced Literacy Program

    • Shared Reading- Shared reading (grade level text) is an interactive reading process in which a teacher and student share in reading a text and the teacher models the skills of a proficient reader. 
    • Read Aloud- Read aloud (above grade level text) is a process by which teachers select a text to model specific reading strategies often used by readers as they silently read. 
    • Guided Reading- Guided reading allows teachers to create differentiated small groups to deliver reading instruction at a student's instructional reading level. 
    • Word Study/Vocabulary Instruction- Word Study in balanced literacy can involve phonics extension or practice. For example, if studying digraphs or vowel-vowel-consonant rimes, you can give students opportunity for practice during word study. Vocabulary instruction can involve studying the meaning of a word with the support of graphic organizers or semantic maps for a deeper understanding of content vocabulary. Students can have additional practice with the four ways to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words and with word parts activities.
    • Interactive Writing- Interactive Writing is a process by which teachers and students share the pen, essentially modeling parts of the writing process.
    • Reader’s Workshop- Reader’s Workshop includes:
      • a mini-lesson,
      • independent reading time in which students are expected to practice a specific reading strategy taught during the lesson,
      • teacher-student conferencing,
      • small group instruction, and
      • a close/share, in which students have an opportunity to model or express how they used the strategy during the workshop time.
    • Writer’s Workshop- Writer’s Workshop includes
      • a mini-lesson
      • independent writing time in which students are expected to practice a particular strategy during a phase of the writing process (generating ideas, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing). 
      •  teacher-student conferencing,
      • small group instruction,
      • a close/share in which students have an opportunity to model or express how they used the strategy during the workshop time.