January 28, 2016 Keeping Our Promise: Every Child, A Reader Shawn Bird, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” -- Steve Jobs

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow A systematic, differentiated approach to teaching reading. Helps teachers know their students strengths and weaknesses. Through small group instruction, teachers can intervene early and appropriately without relying on pull-out services.

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow Aligned with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of PUSD Aligned with the Strategic Direction of Dynamic Instruction It is not a program … it is an instructional approach that values the professional knowledge of our teachers

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow Each school will have a literacy block as part of their regular instructional day ( minutes) This is the core instruction for literacy Assessment is regular, and gives teachers information so that learning targets can be adjusted quickly Phonics instruction is a component of Balanced Literacy.

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow Daily Five: Read to Self Work on Writing Read to Someone Listen to Reading Work Work (phonics instruction)

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow Each school will have a literacy block as part of their regular instructional day ( minutes) This is the core instruction for literacy Assessment is regular, and gives teachers information so that learning targets can be adjusted quickly Phonics instruction is a component of Balanced Literacy.

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow Leveled Bookrooms in each elementary school (5,460 Books) Classroom Libraries for each classroom (375 books in each library) Read aloud library for each classroom (100 books in each library) District classrooms will be flooded with books! (A total of 230,990 in the first year)

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow Coordinated staff development plan: Mandatory Principal Training in February (2 days) Mandatory District Coach / CRT training (6 days) Mandatory Teacher Training through Literacy Institutes (4 days) In short, any adult who work with children or supports and elementary school will be required to attend training so that this effort is fully supported by our own people. Scholastic will provide initial training and support along the way as our partner.

Balanced Literacy: An Instructional Approach Academic Services Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow “When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do so again by reading, just as I did when I was young” -- Maya Angelou

Questions & Comments Our Children Learning Today Leading Tomorrow