Balanced Literacy

We are excited to continue to provide a balanced literacy implementation here in the Oakland Learning Community. With ongoing support from our Board of Education and along with generous donations from our Education Foundation and PTOs, each classroom library has over 200 plus books of leveled libraries and growing!  

Each of our elementary building libraries are using multiples measures of Best Practices such as Lexile through our SRI implementation and Teachers College Assessments based on the Fountas and Pinnell leveling system.

Balanced literacy provides an instructional approach which includes the study of authentic and rich children’s literature, work in leveled texts for guided reading, introduction to patterns and sounds through phonics and spelling instruction, and experience and practice in effective writing traits within a workshop approach.

Balanced literacy begins with creating a genuine appreciation for good literature. It includes teaching phonics, grammar skills, reading and comprehension strategies, and writing forms and skills. Direct and indirect reading instruction, shared reading, and independent reading experiences are provided.