A curriculum that includes a variety of approaches to teaching reading and writing. A balanced literacy curriculum includes phonics instruction, read-alouds, shared reading and writing, guided reading, and direct reading and writing instruction. In addition, the students are in different groupings depending on the type of instruction. For example, lessons can be taught in a whole group format or in small groups, or individualized instruction.
Published in Chapter:
Making Literacy Culturally Relevant: An Imperative for Early Childhood Teacher Education
Elizabeth Morphis (SUNY Old Westbury, USA) and Ting Yuan (College of Staten Island, CUNY, USA)
Copyright: © 2021
|Pages: 14
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-3652-0.ch002
Abstract
In this reflective chapter on culturally relevant teacher preparation, the authors begin by discussing early childhood literacy and how it has traditionally been conceptualized. They offer an overview of a balanced literacy model, including its history, structured development, and critiques. They then consider culturally relevant pedagogy as foundation to reconceptualizing early literacy and teacher preparation. To bring such reconceptualization to life, they share their work with early childhood pre-service teachers, aiming to reconceptualize early literacy. They conclude the chapter with suggestions for moving beyond balanced literacy in culturally relevant ways.