New teachers often are overwhelmed by the concepts of literacy block layouts. I know I was when I first started and there weren’t any clear answers. There is a lot of information coming out in the last year around The Science of Reading. So here’s some of what I’ve done to incorporate it all. I did not scrap my entire program but I did add many new great ideas. That are helping my students thrive.

Independent Reading Every Day.

I begin with independent reading for several reasons, it calms the students when re-entering after lunch. It’s routine and consistent and something that I can do to foster independence and responsibility. It shows them that daily practice is important. I know they won’t make it past ten minutes. Often there are only five minutes of productive reading but that’s okay because of all the other benefits. I offer a bin of yoga mats, cushions and scoop chairs to be used for reading. Along with a variety of really fun word pointers to add choice and again independence. My only rule is you have to be quiet, alone and trying to read during this time.

Time for a Buddy.

Once the students finish the wall timer I set to ten minutes their reward is friend reading. In a way this has replaced reading buddies with older peers. I still highly recommend mixed age peer groups but it did not work well in our school. I allow students to either be in small groups or with a partner to look at books quietly. The kids really enjoy this productive social time and it helps keep them on track during independent reading.

Bringing Back the Phonics.

Once we finish friend reading, I have all the students join me on the carpet for Heggerty Phonics. I have been using this phonics program for a few years now it’s in the words of my admin. “Sharp and Shinny”. Five to seven minute lessons that the students again come to know as a consistent routine. It really improves their overall reading skills.

Don’t forget the Story.

Next, we have our daily read aloud story. Sometimes there is a lesson built into this time sometimes we just read for the love of reading. At the very least they are getting all the good things from my modelling. Along with a love of reading that can’t be taught in any other way. I like to mix it up with my stories. Some are found online many are found in my beloved box of stories, collected over time.

Time for more Phonemic Awareness.

Once we finish our story I will sometimes incorporate a retell. Just by a quick check-in with a few seated on the carpet. It just takes a few minutes and strengthens comprehension. Then I move on to our UFLI lesson. This is another comprehensive program that deserves a post of its own, one coming in the near future. I have just started UFLI this year. It takes about half an hour and again is great for strong skill development.

Writers Workshop.

Once UFlI is complete we move on to a short mini writing lesson. Which often involves my Sound Wall and Vowel Valley or a Secret Story. Mini lessons are no more than five minutes most days. They then get their writing journals from their mailboxes and have twenty minutes to creatively write. I set a timer on Youtube with quiet music. I play this on my whiteboard so they know how long I expect them to be writing. I tell them if they finish a piece they are not done they simply start a new one. As the expectation is to write for the whole time this eliminates early finishers. I also tell them if they are not finished that is okay. We will have time everyday to go back and work on it. Then I stick to this.

Scaffolding on Budding Confidence.

As the students are finding their confidence it is best to work on consistent routines. During this time I allow inventive spelling, rather than push editing. Sometimes even with the best of intentions editing can halt a child’s confidence and leave them feeling unable to try. Not to worry though with a strong language block those things will come.

Time to Share.

We wrap up our Writers Workshop each day with a few peers sharing their work. I allow two comments or questions from the group. Then we wrap it up to begin again on repeat the next day. The kids love using a microphone and it’s a nice way to add in public oral speaking. I trade up what I need them to be learning during my mini lessons. I pull for small groups or assessment during their independent times. Word work, Orthographic mapping and decoding all happens during my small groups at intervention levels. You will make your own tweaks and come up with your own practices. Hopefully this helps to guide you on your learning journey.

With Love, C.