Research-Based Literacy Instruction

In order to attain our high literacy standards, the Lower Primary utilizes many structures in literacy instruction. The key instructional strategies that make up this approach are effective in addressing the literacy needs of young learners. Our teachers utilize these strategies to ensure that the students make progress toward the benchmarks for their grade level. When visiting yourchild’s classroom you will see students engaged in these reading and writing activities. Teachers balance time between whole classinstruction, small group instruction and individual conferences; in order to differentiate and meet the needs of all students.

HKIS Lower Primary Literacy Instruction

Reading Workshop

Students receive direct, explicit instruction in decoding strategies, comprehension strategies, reading behaviors and talking and thinking strategies during daily mini- lessons. Students are allowed to “shop for”/choose books independently from the classroom libraries that are just- right, based on student interest and a balance of both literary and informational texts. An emphasis is placed on comprehension and independence, with structures in place that allow students time to talk and share thinking with others. A “reading community” is created, where students learn to get to know themselves as readers, set reading goals for themselves, take risks and read a lot. Students are exposed to different reading genres through 3-6 week units of study across the year (about 6 units per year). Celebrations typically mark the end of a reading unit/cycle.

Interactive Read Aloud

The teacher reads aloud to the whole class or small groups from a carefully selected body of children's literature, which contains a variety of genres and represents our diverse society. As teachers read, they stop to model their thinking for students and offer students frequent opportunities to reflect on beautiful language, character traits and choices, or interesting facts learned about a topic and connections made to real life. At the end of a read aloud teachers may conduct a whole class discussion around important themes of the text. Favorite texts, selected for special features, are reread many times.

Shared Reading

Using an enlarged text so that all children can see, the teacher involves children in reading together. The process often includes reading big books, poems, songs, teacher and student writing, so that students develop concepts of print, phonemic awareness, and deeper comprehension.

Strategy Groups

The teacher works with small groups who are working towards the same reading goals/needs. Teachers provide explicit instruction to meet the needs of students learning various strategies to support their language, decoding and comprehension skills.

Writing Workshop

Students receive explicit instruction about the many different writing genres and strategies, and regularly model for students their own writing. Students then spend increasing amounts of time every day composing and drafting their own pieces, following an authentic writing process that leads them through revision, editing and publication at the end of each writing cycle. Students are exposed to different writing genres through 4-6 week units of study across the year (about 6-7 units per year). Parents are often invited to class events, where students celebrate their published pieces.

Interactive Writing

The teacher and students work together to compose messages, letters and stories therefore practicing the planning process together. Then the text is written using a “shared pen” technique that involves children in the composition and transcription of the text. Teacher and students work together to compose text that is conventionally correct.

Phonics & Word Study

During word study, students receive direct, explicit instruction in phonics. Teachers introduce phonics concepts and strategies in a way that keeps pace with students’ reading and writing development and helps them know when, how, and why they can use phonics to help them read and write. Students also examine affixes and how they add meaning to base words. Word study is an engaging time of the day during which children inquire, learn, and play with the systems, rules, and patterns that make up the English language.