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Literacy 4-6

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Literacy 4-6 > Strategies > Model Positive Connections to Literacy

Model Positive Connections to Literacy

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Overview

By sharing their own reading and writing, teachers can create a literacy community that supports students in finding meaning in their own work. When teachers share their own enthusiasm for various aspects of reading and writing, they can increase student Motivation and foster a positive learning environment. This strategy also supports the practice of culturally responsive teaching and can be used with other strategies that allow representation of all learners in the curriculum.

Use It in the Classroom

  • Teachers can share their own delight of reading by including a list of favorite books as part of the classroom. This original list can be used as a starting point to be expanded as students add their own favorites.

    • Design It into Your Product

  • Developers can incorporate ways for teachers to share what they read or write with students. This can help create a positive Literacy Environment in the physical classroom and the virtual classroom.
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    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
    Examples

    Shared Reading

    Using shared reading at the middle school level

    Examples

    Shared Writing

    ReadWriteThink strategies for teachers to use their own writing in the classroom

    Examples

    Teachers Share Writing

    Reading Rockets video on why and how teachers can share their own writing

    Research

    Academic Emotions

    Subtopic that includes research on students' emotions related to learning on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    Literacy and Positive Learning Environments

    Research-based intervention strategies for adolescents

    Research

    Self-Efficacy

    Subtopic that includes research on the factors that lead people to develop self-efficacy on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    Teacher/Student Relationships

    Subtopic that includes research on the characteristics of positive teacher-student relationships on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Literacy
    Cognition
    Inhibition
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Emotion
    Motivation
    Stereotype Threat
    Student Background
    Literacy Environment

    More Teacher Modeling & Support Strategies

    Accessible Syntax

    Teachers can support language development by using and providing Syntax that is appropriately leveled (e.g., short, simple structure for young students).

    Accessible Vocabulary

    Teachers support language development by using and providing Vocabulary that is appropriately leveled (e.g., using word wall words).

    Brief Instruction Steps

    Content that is provided in clear, short chunks can support students' Working Memory.

    Building Trusting Relationships

    Building positive and trusting relationships with learners allows them to feel safe; a sense of belonging; and that their academic, cognitive, and social and emotional needs are supported.

    Discussing Emotions

    Teaching students how to label, identify, and manage emotions helps them learn Inhibition & Self-Regulation skills.

    Encourage Student Self-advocacy

    Overtly encouraging all students to seek support and ask questions creates a safe space for risk-taking and skill development.

    Feedback on Writing

    Providing constructive feedback supports students' writing development by letting them know how to improve their writing.

    Foster Growth Mindset

    Teachers can help students understand that learning involves effort, mistakes, and reflection by teaching them about their malleable brain and modeling their own learning process.

    Growth Mindset Feedback

    Providing feedback that focuses on the process of developing skills conveys the importance of effort and motivates students to persist when learning.

    Incorporate Students' Cultural Practices

    Learning about students' cultures and connecting them to instructional practices helps all students feel like valued members of the community, which improves Motivation.

    Model the Assignment or Skill

    By talking through their thinking at each step of a process, teachers can model what learning looks like.

    Predictability: Environment & Structure

    Maintaining consistent classroom routines and schedules ensures that students are able to trust and predict what will happen next.

    Read-alouds

    Reading aloud regularly exposes students to new and familiar Vocabulary and texts.

    Read-alouds: Deliberate Topics

    Reading aloud books about skills children are learning provides another model for their development.

    Student Choice

    Providing students a voice in their learning is critical for making learning meaningful.

    Wait Time

    Wait time, or think time, of three or more seconds after posing a question increases how many students volunteer and the length and accuracy of their responses.

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