Balanced Literacy: First Step Toward Increasing Student Achievement

  
Row after row of leveled texts in central storage at Saluda Primary have been 
checked out by teachers during the 2003-04 school year. 

Fifty-five educators from Saluda County Schools participated in the Summer Literacy Institute June 9-26, 2003. Another 70 teachers participated in this training during the 2003-04 school year.  The focus of the Institute was Balanced Literacy, which is a program utilizing the best practices of assessing and teaching reading. Balanced Literacy is comprised of frequent and on-going reading assessments to determine a student's current reading level; Shared Reading which is implemented with an entire class; Guided Reading which is small group instruction based on a student's text (reading) level; Read Alouds; Independent Reading; and Writing.

Facilitated by Rosemary Patterson, Director of Instruction, and Penny Atkinson, Literacy Coach, participants were trained to administer a six part reading assessment called the Observation Survey. They also received intense training in implementing the heart of Balanced Literacy which is Guided Reading. After the training sessions participants were able to implement the assessment and teaching methods with summer school students.

Each part of Balanced Literacy will be introduced, reviewed, and put into practice with all reading teachers in Saluda County Schools over the next four years. The implementation of Balanced Literacy will ensure that students become independent, autonomous readers able to increase performance in the classroom and on state testing.

Rosemary Patterson stated,"The success of a balanced literacy program in helping our students to become independent readers depends on the dedication and support of our teachers and community. This has been one of the most positive experiences I have had as a trainer because of the participants' overwhelming enthusiasm and willingness to learn. I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with the students, teachers, and parents in Saluda County. Step-by- step we will see substantial improvement in reading scores on a daily basis as well as on our state testing. This is just the first step in the implementation of Dr. Stone's plan for increasing student achievement in Saluda County Schools."

Penny Atkinson, Literacy Coach, facilitates a training
this summer to teachers new to the district on Balanced Literacy.

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