Effective Teachers

Understand how children learn

TheoriesPiaget – constructivist (active learners)Interactive – children make meaning

using prior knowledge and the textVygotsky – social linguistic = social

interactionReader Response – aesthetic vs.

efferent

Support children’s use of cuing systems

Cuing Systems Phonological – letter/sound relationships Syntactic – sentence structure, word endings Semantic – word meanings Pragmatic – social and cultural aspects of

language (dialects, slang)

Create a community of learners

Responsibility Opportunities Engagement Demonstration Risk taking

Instruction Response Choice Time Assessment

Balanced approach to literacy

Whole language vs. Phonics?

Scaffold children’s experiences

Literacy instruction Modeled – teacher reads aloud and writes in

front of students Shared – reading and creating are done

together Interactive – done together but taking turns Guided – small group lessons taught Independent – self-selection, writing process

Organize literacy instruction

Four ways Focus units Literature circles Reading/writing

workshops Basal usage

Connect instruction w/assessment

Steps Pre-assess Teach Monitor Re-teach Assess

Continue to learn

Resources: International Reading Association

http://www.reading.org/ National Writing Project

http://www.writingproject.org/ National Council of Teachers of English

http://www.ncte.org/