essential+agreements

(these can be found on the Staff Only section of the Sage Canyon Elementary website, under "curriculum.") **__Additional Components Essential to a Balanced Reading Program__**  __Text Forms and Features:__  In order to read effectively, children must develop the understanding that text takes varied forms for different purposes. Effective readers recognize these fundamental concepts of print and know how to use specific textual features to gain meaning. This is achieved through a combination of exposure to and instruction in a wide variety of text forms in a print rich environment. A print rich environment is an environment in which reading and writing are used for a wide variety of authentic, everyday purposes. The materials provided must meet the range of reading levels and student diversity always present in any classroom. Whenever possible, non-fiction reading materials should be integrated into content areas. In a 21st century digital world, online and other technology resources should be integrated into the curriculum and students should be taught the skills and strategies necessary to evaluate the content within those resources.   __Engagement and Interest:__  Engagement in reading is motivated by personal interest in different forms of literature. Students need immersion in a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and online text. In addition to instruction at their levels, children need opportunities to choose books of interest to read independently.  __Assessment and Instruction:__  Reading instruction should be informed by on-going assessment and serve several purposes. First, to continually monitor and diagnose progress and adjust instruction to meet student needs; second, to evaluate student achievement toward the Colorado State Standards; and finally, to evaluate student competency and program effectiveness in relation to the Sage Canyon Elementary reading philosophy and program.  __Readers Above and Below Grade Level:__ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Sage Canyon Elementary is committed to the success of all students. The Colorado Basic Literacy Act indicates that students not meeting standards in reading require appropriate, specialized instruction in order to be successful readers. Effective reading instruction for struggling and/or advanced readers must be differentiated and include intensive, systematic, explicit instruction and modeling in small groups, based on the needs and skill levels of students. Materials available to students should be motivating, at the appropriate readability level, and culturally relevant.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **Essential Agreements** Each classroom teacher at Sage Canyon Elementary will:

• Use the Daily 5 & Café framework for organizing and delivering literacy instruction. Please follow the guidelines below regarding Daily 5 & Café expectations: - Each classroom should have the café menu posted. It is understood that each classroom’s café menu will look different based on individual teacher creativity, student need and classroom pacing. - Every teacher must have a record keeping system that is used to track student progress of reading skills and strategies. You may use the “pensieve” or conferring notebook model that is outlined in the Café book or create your own system that works for you. - Each teacher must use the literacy language that is used in the Daily 5 and Café books. This will ensure that students understand a common literacy language from grade level to grade level. For example: We will use the terms: conferring, good-fit books, stamina, read to someone, listen to reading, work on writing, word work, all strategy names outlined in the Café book such as “Flip the Sound”. - Daily 5 /Café should be used as the framework for your literacy block. The LIFT elements should be used where appropriate during your mini-lesson times. - The Café menu should guide your planning for teaching reading skills and strategies. - Go slow to go fast! Take the time to teach and build stamina and independence - Student choice in reading is valued and expected. - Each teacher has autonomy in making decisions regarding how many of the Daily 5 you may get to in one day as well as whether students get to choose their Daily 5 or whether the teacher decides to periodically have all students do the same Daily 5 at the same time.

• provide daily engaging reading instruction at each child’s appropriate reading level. • use ongoing assessment to understand each child’s strengths and areas of growth as a reader and use the assessment data to plan appropriate instruction. • create a classroom environment that is print rich and provides for independent practice. - A print rich environment is an environment where authentic student work is displayed on the classroom walls. Teachers will emphasize student/classroom created materials for display on walls and de-emphasize commercially created materials. Work on classroom walls should be purposeful and be used as a resource for learning. Work on walls should represent a variety of content areas. • use the Colorado State Standards as the starting point when planning instruction. • emphasize inquiry and critical thinking when planning reading instruction. • continue to learn and implement best practice instruction. • learn and authentically implement the LIFT strategies (Guided Reading, Shared Reading, Independent Reading) on a regular basis. • follow the requirements of the Colorado Basic Literacy Act (CBLA) and meet daily with students who have an Individual Literacy Plan (ILP) to provide direct reading instruction. • integrate content area concepts into reading instruction whenever possible • support the Sage Canyon homework policy by assigning reading as daily homework • support students who have Advanced Learning Plans (ALP) by providing direct instruction for advanced learners.