Student-centered literacy instruction emphasizes student choice and ownership of their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
This focus area provides educators with the strategies and tools to create a student-centered literacy classroom that focuses on choice, collaboration, and ownership in order to increase student engagement and improve literacy outcomes.
Focus Area
Student-centered literacy empowers students to practice literacy skills at their own pace as they encounter increasingly complex texts. We support skill development through personalized pathways built from BL Connect, Workshops, 1:1 Coaching, and Learning Walks to achieve clear outcomes.
Outcome: I implement student-driven writing systems in my classroom.
Outcome: I leverage early learners’ oral language skills to support reading and writing development.
Outcome: I plan high-quality lessons for all research-based components of foundational literacy instruction (PA, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension) that maintain high expectations for student performance.
Outcome: I plan high-quality learning experiences that continue to develop students’ ability to elicit meaning from oral and written language by consistently providing all students access to the necessary exposure and practice with language domains covering grade-level content.
Outcome: I monitor student learning on a continuous basis by analyzing both quantitative (i.e. Screeners, student work samples) and qualitative (i.e. Student conferencing) assessment measures that identify students’ strengths and needs.
Outcome: I cultivate an inclusive learning environment that leverages the individuality of my students’ cultural and linguistic identities through informed selection and/or development of instructional practices, materials, and resources for literacy.
Outcome: I develop engaging learning experiences for all my students by consistently incorporating student voice and opportunities for choice in my planning and daily literacy instruction.
Outcome: I focus on the grade level expectations when planning differentiated learning experiences that target students’ strengths and needs.
Increase student reading and engagement with literature circles.
Support students in practicing reading fluently, assessing their own fluency, and reflecting on their reading with their teacher.
Teach students to discuss complex texts or topics and build their speaking and listening skills with Socratic Seminars.
We’ve identified four elements that are key for academic success and for building student-centered classrooms. BetterLesson guides teachers, instructional coaches, and leaders through focus areas within each element to lead their professional development journey.
Instructional Leadership Improve instruction and learning for teachers and students by building your skills as an instructional leader.
Inclusive and Responsive Practices Build an equitable learning community where all students can be supported, celebrated, and successful.
Flexible Instructional Models Find unique ways for all students to learn, communicate, and solve meaningful problems.
Curriculum and Academic Content Use learning tools and curriculum to create a student-centered classroom.
Improve instruction and learning for teachers and students by building your skills as an instructional leader.
Build an equitable learning community where all students can be supported, celebrated, and successful.
Find unique ways for all students to learn, communicate, and solve meaningful problems.
Use learning tools and curriculum to create a student-centered classroom.
Accelerate growth in your schools and stay ahead of the curve.
