Grade level standards are taught using a brief, explicit lesson format. This includes modeling guided practice and an expectation of application of the lesson.
Literacy
Literacy is fundamental for success in all pursuits and necessary for lifelong learning. Our goal in Dalton Public Schools is to provide students with a literacy-rich environment where they acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become effective communicators and critical thinkers who value literacy in their everyday lives.
Dalton Public Schools utilizes a balanced literacy approach that includes Readers’ Workshop, Writers’ Workshop, and Language and Word Study. The workshop model allows for grade-level, standards-based instruction in reading and writing to every student in the whole-group mini lesson. Small groups and leveled texts are used to meet the instructional needs of all students. Individual reading and writing conferences help tailor instruction to the individual needs of students.
Our literacy framework provides students with multiple opportunities for reading and writing across a variety of genres, in all content areas, and utilizes a range of text difficulty. At Dalton Public Schools, we are building a community of joyful, engaged, and successful readers and writers.
Readers' Workshop
Mini Lesson, Guided Reading, Independent Reading, Reading Conferences, Writing about Reading and Share Time
After the mini lesson, students have the opportunity to apply their learning during independent reading.
Students meet in small, flexible groups to read and learn together.
Students meet in small groups to develop reading strategies and enjoy books together.
During Readers' Workshop, students have the opportunity to choose books on their own and read independently.
Once a week, students write about what they are learning from the books they are reading.
Reader’s Notebooks are used to give students an opportunity to share their thinking about the books they are reading.
Readers’ Workshop ends with a time for sharing the work and learning that happened that day.
Writers' Workshop
Mini Lesson, Guided Writing, Independent Writing, Writing Conferences and Share Time
Anchor Charts are often used to create a resource for the class to remember and use the strategies that are taught.
Writers plan their stories before they begin writing. After a writing conference with his teacher, this second grade student has planned his narrative story across several pages.
Students draft their stories before they edit and publish.
Teachers talk with individual students about their writing and give individual feedback and instruction.
At the end of Writers' Workshop, students share their work and what they are learning as writers.
Language and Word Study
Phonics, Grammar, Vocabulary and Language
Students receive whole-group and small-group instruction in phonics. These skills help build word solving strategies.
After a whole group lesson on word parts, students practice putting parts together to build a word.
These students are building words they see frequently in their reading and writing.
During interactive read aloud, students share their thinking with a turn-and-talk partner. This helps develop speaking and listening skills.
A word wall helps students build independence as readers and writers.
Workstations are utilized in the Primary Readers’ Workshop as a way for students to independently practice the skills they are learning in reading, writing and phonics.
Shared Reading is a tool used to move students forward as readers. Reading together helps with fluency and allows students to read more complex texts.
Students in all grades work on developing vocabulary-solving strategies.
Our students practice "close reading" by reading and re-reading a difficult text to gain a deeper understanding. Students learn to use annotation marks to guide their thinking.
This is an example of a third grade annotation. Close reading helps students with comprehension and vocabulary.
The use of word walls continues into the middle school, including more academic vocabulary.
Interactive Writing allows young students to share the pen with teachers to compose and create writing pieces.