What does a balanced literacy program look like in Franklin County Public
Schools?
In our elementary schools, balanced literacy instruction addresses the needs of all learners, views
teachers as data-driven decision-makers, is flexible, and is research-based. Students are given daily
opportunities (90-120 minutes core instruction per day) to engage in various reading and writing tasks
to help them communicate more effectively. In a balanced literacy framework, students participate in
read-alouds, shared reading, guided reading, independent reading and word study. They also engage in
modeled writing, shared writing, interactive writing, guided writing, and independent writing. During
balanced literacy instruction, there is a gradual release of responsibility over time as the student
becomes more independent. The role of the teacher is to model (I do it), guide (we do it), provide
scaffolds, and coach before students are asked to work independently (you do it). During independent
work time, teachers confer with students to push their thinking. As reading-writing workshop closes,
reflection time is vital for students and teachers. We must not forget the importance of coming back
together and sharing what we’ve learned. We “zip up the backpack” together. The role of the
administrator is to be informed, guide instruction and implementation, provide feedback, and support
teachers in obtaining necessary resources.
For middle and high, a balanced literacy program includes the comprehensive literacy instruction that
students receive in middle school and the literacy instruction students receive across their content
courses at the high school level. It is not a “forced” literacy program, but grows out of students’ needs
for using communications skills including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. “Balanced literacy”
suggests that the literacy is integrated seamlessly into instruction with no “stopping instruction” to now
do literacy. It includes not only reading at the appropriate text complexity level, but it also includes the
three types of writing, used authentically in the classroom to help teachers teach their standards, not
only in English, but also in content courses. Balanced literacy also includes components of reading,
writing, speaking, and listening instruction such as vocabulary and grammar/mechanics instruction
integrated within these strands. The core identifies what should happen at each grade level. Training is
also a solution for helping teachers understand the vertical as well as horizontal alignment of the core.