The teaching of literacy involves multiple components that will foster students their entire life. Literacy instruction is a process that includes many sub-skills such as reading and writing, which can be broken down into even more specific components. The combination of these components is what will aid a child through their life with various tasks. Literacy begins with instruction but once it is mastered it transfers into the basis for many other components of life. When a child becomes literate many other doors are opened as literacy is the building block to other subjects in school which later transfer to success in life.
KNOWLEDGE OF LITERACY INSTRUCTION
Effective instruction begins when teachers are able to capture their students attention throughout the learning process. This can be accomplished at every step of learning process by differentiating text selections, group size, and allowing students choice. Beginning with explicit instruction, a gradual release of responsibility should be slowly transferred onto the students as they move through guided practice to ultimately reach independent usage. Engagement should also be a part of every stage during the learning process through guided practice, including shared, choral, and echo readings. Ample independent reading time should also be one of the main components of literacy instruction following direct instruction and guided practice so that students are provided with opportunities to make use of newly acquired skills and strategies. The teaching of literacy is not a clear cut procedure as many components will need to be revisited as the level of explicit and guided instruction will vary for each student. I was able to use my knowledge to create step-by-step lesson plans that followed the steps of instruction listed above.
Small Group Instruction
During my student teaching experience, ELA instruction included whole group and small group instruction. Small group instruction consisted of leveled groups that were altered for each unit. This allowed for explicit individualized instruction to occur for all learners. It was necessary to make a strong connection between reading and writing for students. This allowed for better understanding and retention of the newly learned concept. It also made students more aware of the importance of literacy.