Transitioning to structured literacy improves the literacy block and small group instruction.
Incorporating content and comprehension in literacy instruction enhances student access and comprehension skills.
Strong tier 1 instruction in foundational skills and content minimizes the need for extensive small group instruction and supports all students.
Deep dives
Shifting from Balanced Reading to Structured Literacy
Casey Jurgens, a kindergarten teacher, discusses the changes he experienced when transitioning from balanced reading to structured literacy. He highlights the transformation in his literacy block and the shifts in small group instruction.
The Importance of Content and Comprehension
Casey emphasizes the significance of incorporating content and comprehension in literacy instruction. He shares how integrating a knowledge-building curriculum allows students to access rich content and develop strong comprehension skills.
Maximizing Tier 1 Instruction
Casey emphasizes the role of tier 1 instruction in closing learning gaps. He explains how a strong tier 1 approach in foundational skills and content literacy can effectively support all students and minimize the need for extensive small group instruction.
Balancing Whole Group and Small Group Instruction
Casey explains how his instructional block incorporates whole group and small group instruction. He describes how whole group instruction focuses on building background knowledge and comprehension, while small group instruction targets specific student needs in foundational skills and content.
The Benefits of a Knowledge-Building Curriculum
Natalie Wexler highlights the importance of using a knowledge-building curriculum to aid comprehension and content instruction. She emphasizes that a well-designed curriculum can support students' comprehension, vocabulary development, and background knowledge growth.
In today’s episode, we discuss the structure and content of the literacy block. How can we teach using structured literacy in small groups? Kinder teacher Casey Jergens and author Natalie Wexler join us to connect theory and practice. Casey previously taught using a guided (leveled) reading approach with lots of small group time. In recent years, he’s switched to focus on Tier 1 instruction aligned to structured literacy, which supports access for all students.
