This chart explains the five-finger method for choosing a book. When trying to select a book a student should open the book to a random page and begin reading. If he or she comes across five words they do not understand then the book is too difficult.
Anchor Chart for ‘Just Right’ Texts
Content Literacy
This document from the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat’s Research into Practice series addresses the question: how can we teach content literacy to elementary students? It discusses the challenges that students face when it comes to reading informational texts that contain vocabulary and concepts that are foreign to them. The author presents teaching strategies and tips to assist teachers in helping students to overcome those challenges.
Learning Blocks for Literacy and Numeracy
This article, from the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat’s ‘Reasearch into Practice’ series discusses the importance of having 100-120 minute blocks for literacy learning and 60-70 minute blocks for numeracy learning. Emphasis is placed on the fact that learning blocks allow for differentiated learning. The author also suggests tips for planning a classroom timetable in addition to outlining a sample instructional sequence for learning blocks.
Balanced Literacy Diagram
This diagram shows the main components of balanced literacy program as well as the main features of each component.
Using Bloom’s Taxonomy in Reading Instruction
This is a one-page graphic representation of how to connect Bloom’s Taxonomy with reading instruction.
The Ontario Curriculum Exemplars Grade 1-8 Writing (1999)
The Ontario Curriculum Exemplars are intended to provide a model for planning, assessing, and improving student work across Ontario. The exemplars give Ontario teachers the opportunity to view graded student work that is based on tasks that were designed with the curriculum expectations in mind and assessed according to the four levels of achievement outlined in the curriculum. The specific goals behind publishing the exemplars are: to show examples of student work at each of the four levels of achievement; to work toward consistency in assessment across the province; to demonstrate an approach to student learning that is based on clear criteria; and to highlight the links between the curriculum expectations and assessment.
Read, Write, Think
Read, Write, Think is a joint venture between the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. The site provides tools for quality reading and writing instruction, web links, literacy-based activities, and lesson plans. There are also online reading and writing activities for students.
Boys’ Literacy Links
The Ministry of Education has developed a variety of resources to support boys’ literacy in the province. At this link you can find access to videos, reports, and booklets.
Oral Communication Strategies
This document is part of the Ministry publication, Think Literacy: Cross Curricular Approaches. This portion of the document looks at oral communication strategies which have been designed to assist in creating an effective and successful FSL program.
National Geographic For Kids
The National Geographic for students site contain a great deal of information that students would find useful. This award winning site is highly interactive and entertaining.