Overview

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**What is balanced literacy?**
 **Balanced literacy is a framework for literacy learning. Balanced literacy involves the following components.** **These components are intergrated through oral language and content daily.**
 * **listening**
 * **speaking**
 * **reading**
 * **writing**
 * **word study**

Balanced literacy instruction respects and addresses the needs of all learners, views teachers as informed decison-makers, is flexible, and is research-based. A balanced literacy approach to instruction provides students with __daily opportunies__ to engage in various reading and writing activities 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. In addition, they engage in modeled writing, shared writing,interactive writing, guided writing,a nd independent writing. During balanced literacy instruction, there is a gradual relaease as the student becomes more independent. The role of the teachers is to model, guide, and coach before students are asked to work more independently.