This document summarizes strategies for improving literacy skills in elementary school students. It discusses the "Every Child, Every Day" framework which focuses on ensuring that every student reads something they choose, reads accurately, reads for understanding, writes about something meaningful, talks with peers, and listens to an adult read aloud each day. Specific strategies are provided, such as shared reading, guided reading, literacy centers, building connections to texts, and creating an inquiry-based classroom to increase student engagement and thinking. The goal is to ignite a passion for literacy in all students.
6. How does this connect to the
redesigned curriculum?
• A focus on BIG IDEAS
• Increased teacher autonomy and
responsibility
• Increased personaliza>on/choice for learners
9. We CAN teach all our kids to read.
• Struggling readers need to read MORE than
non-struggling readers to close the gap.
• Struggling readers need to form a mental
model of what readers do when reading.
• Struggling readers need to read for meaning
and joy ☺
• Struggling readers do NOT need worksheets,
scripted programs, or more skills prac>ce.
10. The Balance
• Whole class reading is thinking instruc>on
• Shared reading – modeling strategies and co-
crea>ng meaning
• Small group/guided reading
• 1:1 conferences – oral reading,
comprehension, feedback
• Choice and independent prac>ce
• Daily wri>ng
17. Literacy Centres, Gr 1/2
with Lisa Schwartz
• Begin with whole class modeling of flexible
use of strategies
• Opportuni>es for guided prac>ce – 10
minutes per centre
• Reflect, whole group: something you learned
or a challenge you solved in reading/wri>ng
32. Building Deeper Connections
• Grade 2 with Kinder Mann, Burnaby
• Explain how connec>ons help us deepen our understanding
of a story.
• Make connec>ons with the cover
• Give kids a post-it note with their name
• Read the story as kids silently place their post-it notes when
they make a connec>on.
• Reread the ‘improved’ story now that it is richer with all our
connec>ons.
• Write about your connec>on with the story – one that
really helped you think more deeply about the story.
39. Creating an Inquiry Classroom
- increasing engagement and
thinking
• With Angela Curle, grade 5/6
• Lakeview Elementary, Quesnel
40. Goal: create curiosity and
questioning, deepen thinking
• Model ‘no>ce’, ‘think’, ‘ques>on’ with a picture
• Students, in groups of 3, ‘no>ce’, ‘think’,
‘ques>on’ with another picture
• Students move to add on to a 2nd picture
• Model ‘explode the sentence’
• Students, in groups of 3, ‘explode the sentence’
• Begin to read the text. No>ce engagement and
thinking.