Welcome to 7th Grade Language Arts

1. Welcome to 7th Grade Language Arts As a Comprehensive Approach to Teaching Reading and Writing

2. Reading Read Aloud Shared Reading Guided Reading Independent Reading Writing Modeled Writing Shared Writing Guided Writing Independent Writing Components of Balanced Literacy • Word Work

3. Read Aloud Teacher reads selection aloud to students. • Demonstrates proficient reading • Expands access to text beyond child’s abilities • Supports vocabulary development and demonstrates comprehension strategies • Exposes students to a variety of genres

4. Shared Reading In a large group, the teacher extends students’ understanding of the reading process by reading from an enlarged text. After the initial reading, the teacher provides opportunities for the students to join in rereading the text.

5. Shared Reading continued Engages children through: • Activating background knowledge • Explaining concepts and vocabulary • Modeling and teaching decoding and comprehension strategies • Questioning • Coaching • Providing specific feedback

6. Guided Reading The teacher uses (appropriately leveled text or leveled text matched to student’s instructional levels)to guide small groups of students with similar instructional needs through the reading process.

7. Guided Reading continued The teacher: • Identifies lesson objectives • Provides a clear introduction to the text through questioning and discussion • Coaches 1 to 2 children students individually in problem solving while group reads silently • Reinforces word solving and comprehension strategies

8. Guided Reading continues The students: • Read with teacher support available • Practice decoding, comprehension and self-regulating strategies • Discuss, reflect and reread to achieve the lesson’s objectives • Build independence and confidence

9. Independent Reading Students read independently. • Allows student to choose the text • Provides practice at each student’s independent level • Extends experiences with a variety of written texts • Promotes reading for enjoyment and information

10. Word Work The teacher uses systematic and explicit instruction throughout the balanced literacy components to teach: • Phonological and phonemic awareness • Phonics • Encoding and decoding strategies • Word solving strategies for comprehension

11. Modeled Writing The teacher models proficient writing. • Demonstrates proficient writing • Expands access to written language beyond student’s abilities • Exposes students to a variety of genres

12. Shared Writing Teacher and students collaborate to compose text which the teacher scribes. • Models writing strategies • Teaches writing strategies • Extends understanding of the writing process • Provides a vehicle for students to explore how text is structured to convey meaning

13. Guided Writing The teacher guides small groups of students and/or individuals through the writing process.

14. Guided Writing continued The teacher: • Monitors students’ writing strategies • Reinforces and introduces writing skills as necessary • Engages students through questioning and specific feedback

15. Guided Writing continued The students: • Write with teacher guidance • Practice writing strategies • Explore a variety of genres • Build independence and confidence

16. Independent Writing Students write independently. • Allows student to choose the topic and genre • Provides meaningful practice at each student’s independent level • Values the time dedicated to the writing process

17. Research • “Reading volume predicted reading comprehension in third-, fifth-, eighth- and tenth-grade students, even when pupil factors such as past reading achievement, prior knowledge and motivation were controlled statistically.” Guthrie, J.T., Wigfield, A., Metsala, J., & Cox, K. 1999. “Motivational and Cognitive Predictors of Text Comprehension and Reading Amount.” Scientific Studies of Reading , 3(3), 231-256.