Literacy Night for Elementary Parents Verona Public Schools Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Verona Administrative Team  Mr. Charlie Miller, Director of Curriculum  Dr. Anthony Lanzo, Principal of FN Brown  Mrs. Julie DiGiacomo, Principal of Laning  Mr. Jeffrey Monacelli, Principal of Forest  Mr. Richard Rampolla, Principal of Brookdale  Dr. Sumit Bangia, Supervisor of Humanities

Tonight’s Goal Help parents and guardians to learn more about the Verona’s School District’s literacy programs for grades K-4.

Our Literacy Mission Engage all students in a literacy program that fosters the necessary skills to become independent readers, writers, speakers, thinkers, and learners. independent = Life Long Learners

What is Literacy?  Literacy is at the center of all learning and “enables us to find the information we need, to express our opinions and to take positions.” (Fountas, 3).  Literacy encompasses the study of phonics, reading, writing, speaking, listening, and grammar. Source: Guided Readers and Writers: Teaching Comprehension, Genre, and Content Literacy by Fountas & Pinnell

What does it mean to be a literate person in the 21 st century?  Readily undertake the close, attentive reading that is at the heart of complex works of literature.  Actively seek the wide, deep, and thoughtful engagement with high- quality literary and informational texts that builds knowledge, enlarges experience and broadens world view. Source: Common Core State Standards

HOW DOES VERONA ACHIEVE 21 ST CENTURY LITERACY? Balanced Literacy Instruction

Balanced because it’s not driven by any one particular educational philosophy or teaching style (phonics vs. whole language). “Rather, we must recognize that the issue of balance is better described in terms of multiple dimensions of both content and context.” Source: Pearson,D.L, & Raphael, T. (2003). Toward a More Complex View of Balance in the Literary Curriculum. Best Practices in Literacy Instruction, 2 nd Edition, p. 34. New York, The Guilford Press.

Balanced because it moves students from dependence to independence through: 1.Explicit Instruction 2.Guided Practice 3.Independent Application Gradual Release of Responsibility Workshop Model

Balanced because it incorporates flexible grouping in which our students are receiving individualized teaching appropriate to their strengths and needs in literacy. 1.Whole Class Instruction 2.Homogeneous Small Groups 3.Heterogeneous Small Groups 4.Partner Groups 5.Individual Differentiation

THREE INSTRUCTIONAL BLOCKS OF LITERACY

(1) Reading Workshop  Students are actively engaged in reading that reflects real life.  Fosters a community of learners who engage in genuine talk with respect to reading and writing.  Individual strengths and needs are addressed through both individual and group work.

(2) Writing Workshop  Students develop writing strategies, learn about the writer’s craft, and use writing as a tool for learning and communication.  Students practice writing in different genres and apply conventions to communicate information clearly to a variety of audiences.

(3) Word Work  This focuses on teaching phonics, spelling and vocabulary.  Lower grade levels: Help students by teaching them to automatically recognize sight words and to look for patterns within words that will enable them to encode or decode words more accurately at the primary grades.  Upper grade levels: Increased emphasis on vocabulary and analyzing complex letter patterns.

Support at Home Literacy learning must be promoted and extended into the home and community. It is only when students are continuously stimulated beyond the classroom setting that they are able to become truly successful in their learning.

Teacher Presenters  Kelly Flynn  Jamie Ricci  Sage Nardi  Anne Marie Ruggiero  Joan Weiss  Lou Waibel  Mary Anne Force  Pam Banta  Jenny Kirby  Karen Sabatino  Megan Pellegrino  Kim Savolskis  Kara Passage  Corisa Walker  Lesley Carter  Katey McAuliffe  Maria Graziano  Nancy Hiscano  Anna Collins  Erica McKenna  Tamara Gesario  Claire Duffy  Megan Lavoie Thank you!!!!!!!

Feedback Survey  All attendees will be sent an online survey following tonight’s event where you may share your feedback and ask questions.

Thank you for attending!