Balanced Literacy (WMS) by Jennifer Watts Kearney https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof Reading / Writing Workshop en-us 2018-08-06 15:42:36 UTC 2025-11-14 19:30:05 UTC hello@padlet.com Literacy is the ability to read and understand something. It can exist in a variety of contexts. There is reading literacy, writing literacy, math literacy, etc. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300477 2019-01-10 15:48:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300477 The ability to read and comprehend written text. It is also the ability to infer the underlying message the author was intending to spread through their writing. aguirrev https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300487 2019-01-10 15:48:04 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300487 What is literacy? https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300531 Literacy is the ability to negotiate the world without overt assistance. The literate person knows that answers to questions can be found or how to instigate research to discover answers.  The literate person can read and write and uses these skills to participate in local and national politics to protect rights. The literate person can use texts to entertain and inform. Literacy allows people to explore ideas they may not have encountered without the ability to read or write. Literacy is the ability to choose and share books with their babies,  to discuss texts with their children. Literacy is a life skill.

]]> 2019-01-10 15:48:09 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300531 The ability to read and write. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300641 2019-01-10 15:48:19 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300641 powellj88 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300812 I think literacy is the ability to read a text, and also the ability to create a text. I don't necessarily think this means the ability to read words in paragraph form.  I think it means the ability to read texts with text features, and decide how they add to the text, or read a piece of media, or make sense of a video, etc.  In the same way, I think "writing" includes writing a variety of texts, with words, pictures and text features, video and audio, in a way that makes sense for others. ]]> 2019-01-10 15:48:35 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319300812 Integrating reading and writing within the curriculum so that students see the importance of both. One cannot be sustained without the other. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319301029 2019-01-10 15:48:53 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319301029 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319301090 Literacy is being able to read, comprehend what you're reading, and think about the reading. We all have the ability to simply read words in front of us, but to be able to think critically, and maybe even question something is literacy. 

]]> 2019-01-10 15:48:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319301090 Literacy is the ability to understand what one is reading. Literacy also includes the skill to be able to write in such a way to express one's thoughts. gagep1 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319301181 2019-01-10 15:49:07 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319301181 Balanced literacy is seeing the connection between both reading and writing. I also feel like it is a balance between learning how to read/write and form a desire to read and write. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319301935 2019-01-10 15:50:07 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319301935 powellj88 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319302157 I think balanced literacy means making time for both reading and writing in the classroom. I think it means acknowledging that they are reciprocal processes and both support and grow from one another. ]]> 2019-01-10 15:50:25 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319302157 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319302374 Literacy is the ability to understand what you are reading and express yourself fluently in written form. ]]> 2019-01-10 15:50:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319302374 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319303034 Balanced literacy is when reading and writing are taught in a way that helps students understand how much writing ability is dependent on reading ability. ]]> 2019-01-10 15:51:42 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319303034 Balanced Literacy is the incorporation of reading, responding to text, and word analysis. aguirrev https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319303912 2019-01-10 15:53:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319303912 gagep1 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319303961 Balanced literacy is an approach to teaching reading and writing skills. It is a method to teach these skills within the context of each other.]]> 2019-01-10 15:53:08 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319303961 Balanced literacy, I hope, is a balance found in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319305794 2019-01-10 15:55:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319305794 powellj88 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319312507 I think what sticks out to me most is the part where she mentions the difference between thinking about "What is the best way to teach reading?" vs "What needs to be done to ensure that children learn to read?" I think the difference is that the second question places emphasis on our students, which is where it should be!]]> 2019-01-10 16:05:56 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319312507 I agree with the analogy Karen Sher had about reading and caring for a plant. There are often times when teachers, parents and students take a passive approach to education/learning. If we expect students to learn, then we have to be actively monitoring their growth and make adjustments to intervene when their development is stunted. If we sit aside and wait for students to acquire skills on their own, we may miss opportune times for guidance through the learning process. aguirrev https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319312573 2019-01-10 16:06:02 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319312573 I think that the idea of changing it from "balanced" to "comprehensive" makes a great statement to what can happen when the ability to teach is removed from the teacher. When curriculum is driven by scores, politics or even publishers problems set in. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319312721 2019-01-10 16:06:14 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319312721 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313225 “We need to create collaborative learning environments in which students are challenged to take risks (and feel comfortable doing so), follow their own questions, and explore rich literature on their journey to lifelong literacy.” This stuck out to me because writing is hard for kids! Especially those with mental blocks already in place. Getting them comfortable enough to try their best and accept feedback to growth (instead of shutting down or just being compliant) is my main goal!]]> 2019-01-10 16:06:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313225 The paragraph where the author talks about the shift of the term balance really resonated with me. At this time, the term 'balance' was synonoymous with learning a hierarchy of skills and the teacher's role as a knowlegable decision maker was reduced. The time period in which this happened was during my college and student teaching years. My first years in the profession were modeled after this thinking. 20 years later, as I look back on that and reflect I can see how I have not only grown as an educator, but that I am more aligned with my beliefs and my "why" for teaching. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313228 2019-01-10 16:06:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313228 What stood out to me was how important it is for teachers to be "coaching.'' I love the idea of looking at a teacher as a coach, as someone who is there to guide and encourage students. Another aspect of the reading that stood out to me was how it's important for students to be able to collaborate and take risks within the classroom. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313588 2019-01-10 16:07:33 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313588 I like the idea of nurturing learners. We need to give them the skills, strategies, materials, and social/emotional supports they need to learn literacy. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313775 2019-01-10 16:07:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313775 gagep1 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313954 Teaching students is so much more than just the "how to" formulaic steps of teaching a prescribedskill.  We do not serve our students if we are also not being intentional and including the social emotional needs of our students in our classrooms.]]> 2019-01-10 16:08:05 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319313954 Comprehensive literacy: Routman presents the asking students to stretch just a little, that we teach in the zone of proximal development, although she never uses this term. We need to know where our students are in order to get them to stretch (to engage them without frustrating them) https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319315067 2019-01-10 16:09:51 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319315067 Love this quote: "Our own enthusiasm while demonstrating is contagious and promotes a love of reading and writing." That totally speaks to me! https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319316276 2019-01-10 16:11:50 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319316276 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319316740 “... we gradually decrease our support as students become increasingly competent.” This quote stuck out to me because I think it’s hard to do as a teacher. But the goal should always be to create more and more independence in our students. With reading and writing, giving them more choice and more independence (when appropriate!) could help foster creativity, a love of reading, and responsibility. ]]> 2019-01-10 16:12:42 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319316740 "By exposing students to strategies that may be just outside their reach, we are demonstrating, suggesting, challenging, and practicing possibilities for future use on their own." Modeling for students is important! powellj88 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319316755 2019-01-10 16:12:44 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319316755 I think I often overlook the model/aloud piece of a comprehensive literacy program. I know I am guilty of being consumed by time and feeling like there is not enough time to include these important aspects of a literacy program. Our job is to teach students how to love reading and writing, but they rarely see their instructor doing either. aguirrev https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319316892 2019-01-10 16:13:00 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319316892 The words that really stand out are "gradually decrease our support." This means that we need to continue to monitor all levels of students. https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319318431 2019-01-10 16:15:15 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319318431 gagep1 https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319319290 It's all about our intention. Modeling, creating, supporting, it all goes back to the intention of the teacher to build a literacy rich environment to support students.]]> 2019-01-10 16:16:44 UTC https://padlet.com/mjngfam/cafarmrmtcof/wish/319319290