Language Arts/English Curriculum Frameworks - Albemarle County ...

an ambitious curriculum that challenges each student. Frequent opportunities to read and write reinforce
the strong link between skill and strategy learning.
Grouping
In order to achieve this goal, students participate in small group instruction, whole group
instruction, and independent reading and writing activities. The purpose of small group learning is to
provide teacher support for the reading of slightly challenging texts that stretch student knowledge and
build strategy and skill repertoire. This is known as books at the instructional level of the student.
Further, having students write about books they are reading in literacy groups incorporates writing.
Whether students are filling in the blanks to create a pattern book or comparing and contrasting
characters, it is important that students make the connection between reading and writing through written
responses to books being read.
The purpose of independent reading is to provide students reading time with easy-to-read and
personally interesting books, providing rehearsal of reading skills and assimilation. It is an expectation
in Albemarle County that all classrooms K-5 and 6-12 reading classes will honor this balance of
using instructional and independent level material.
Effective reading classrooms emphasize flexible small group work in order to provide immediate
feedback to students, and stress coaching students in the skills being taught as opposed to telling answers
© ASPIRE K-12, Albemarle County Public Schools, 2003
Appendix B
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