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This Is Balanced Literacy, Grades K-6
By: Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Nancy Akhavan
- Grade Level: PreK-12
- ISBN: 9781544360942
- Published By: Corwin
- Series: Corwin Literacy
- Year: 2019
- Page Count: 272
- Publication date: September 17, 2019
Price: $39.95
Description
Students learn to read and write best when their teachers balance literacy instruction. But how do you strike the right balance of skills and knowledge, reading and writing, small and whole group instruction, and direct and dialogic instruction, so that all students can learn to their maximum potential?
The answer lies in the intentional design of learning activities, purposeful selection of instructional materials, evidence-based teaching methods, and in strategic groupings of students based on assessment data. Together, these create the perfect balance of high impact learning experiences that engage and excite learners. In this hands-on essential guide, best-selling authors Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Nancy Akhavan help you define that balance for your students, lighting the path to implementing balanced literacy in your classroom. Their plan empowers you to integrate evidence-based approaches that include:
• Instructional materials comprised of both informational and narrative texts.
• The best uses of instructional delivery modes, including direct and dialogic instruction.
• Grouping patterns that work best to accomplish learning aims for different learners at different stages.
• Instruction in foundational skills and meaning making, including oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency,
vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.
• Technology used as a tool for increasing learning of a specific literary process.
All the tips and tools you need to realize the goal of balanced literacy learning are included, with classroom videos that show strategies in action. Tap your intuition, collaborate with your peers, and put the research-based strategies embedded in this roadmap to work in your classroom to implement or deepen a strong, successful balanced literacy program. Grow as a reading and writing teacher while leading your students to grow as readers and writers.
Author(s)

Douglas Fisher
Douglas Fisher, Ph.D., is professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Doug was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. He is the recipient of an International Reading Association William S. Grey citation of merit and an Exemplary Leader award from the Conference on English Leadership of NCTE. He has published numerous articles on teaching and learning as well as books such as The Teacher Clarity Playbook, PLC+, Visible Learning for Literacy, Comprehension: The Skill, Will, and Thrill of Reading, How Tutoring Works, and How Learning Works. Doug loves being an educator and hopes to share that passion with others.

Nancy Frey

Nancy Akhavan
Dr. Nancy Akhavan has spent more than 30 years as an educator and consultant. Her work focuses on student support through literacy instruction and intervention, English Language Development, leadership development and organizational systems to increase student achievement. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Fresno State. She is the founder of Nancy Akhavan Consulting, Inc. Dr. Akhavan has been a bilingual teacher, principal of three schools, and a district administrator of a large urban district for ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science and World Languages. She also served as Assistant Superintendent Secondary Division in a large urban school district. Dr. Akhavan is recognized for her expertise in teaching literacy practices and has published twelve books that focus on instruction that increases student achievement, and has worked with districts and county offices in multiple states and internationally to increase student achievement in reading, writing, and in content areas.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Defining Balance, Finding Balance
Chapter 2 - Whole Class Reading Instruction: High-Level Support for Learning
Chapter 3 - Whole Class Writing Instruction: High-Level Support for Learning
Chapter 4 - Collaborative Reading and Writing: Learning in the Company of Peers
Chapter 5 - Small Group Reading Instruction: Targeted Support Through Guided Learning
Chapter 6 - Small Group Writing Instruction: Targeted Support Through Guided Learning
Chapter 7 - Independent Reading: Practicing, Applying, and Extending Learning
Chapter 8 - Independent Writing Instruction: Practicing, Applying, and Extending Learning
Chapter 9 - Assessment and Intervention in the Balanced Literacy Classroom: Noticing and Responding to Students' Needs
References
Reviews
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These authors (if more than you!) have brilliantly synthesized evidence-based best practices for quality instruction - breaking down the complexities of a balanced literacy classroom and aligning excellent instruction with formative assessment to meet the needs of all learners. This resource exemplifies the distinguished practices of Danielson’s framework and makes it digestible as a tool for classroom teachers in planning and implementing a balanced literacy approach sure to yield tangible achievement results!Lura A. Hanks
Supervisor for English Language Arts and Social Studies, Washington County Public Schools
"Balanced literacy means different things to different people. In This Is Balanced Literacy, Fisher, Frey, and Akhavan take a research-based, best-practices look at what balanced literacy can and should be. Readers will leave with loads of practices and ideas to fine-tune every aspect of their balanced literacy curriculum to truly maximize student learning!"Wiley Blevins, Author
A Fresh Look At Phonics, ILA Leadership Brief: Meeting the Challenges of Early Literacy Phonics Instruction
Other Titles in: Literacy (Primary/Elementary)
For Instructors
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Related Professional Learning
Related Signature ServicesRelated Webinars
Tools
- Companion Website [Site]
- Gradual Release of Responsibility Within Your Balanced Literacy Groups [In the News]
- Letter from the Authors [Other]
- Reclaiming Balanced Literacy for Higher Learning [In the News]
- The Role of Assessment in Balanced Literacy [In the News]
- What Is Balanced Literacy? [Video]