Literate Environments
IRA Standard 5
A literacy rich environment to support the CCSS
ILA Standard 5: Literate Environment
Blog and planned units of study (poetry, integrated language arts, writing instruction.
Author's study, book summaries).
Arrange instructional areas to provide easy access to books and other instructional
materials for a variety of individual, small-group, and whole-class activities and support
teachers in doing the same.
5.2: Design a social environment that is low risk and includes choice, motivation, and scaffolded support to optimize students' opportunities for learning to read and write.
Book Clubs, Literature Circles, Cooperative Group Discussions, Partner Writing, Book
Sharing, Book Talks
Create supportive social environments for all students, especially those who struggle
with reading and writing.
Create supportive environments where English learners are encouraged and provided
with many opportunities to use English.
5.3: Use routines to support reading and writing instruction (e.g. time allocation, transitions from one activity to another, discussions, peer feedback).
Reader's workshop, writer's workshop, read alouds, independent reading time,
daily lesson plans designed to focus instruction on student need.
Understand the role of routines in creating and maintaining positive learning
environments for reading and writing instruction using traditional print, digital, and
online resources.
Create effective routines for all students, especially those who struggle with reading and writing.
5.4: Use a variety of classroom configurations (i.e., whole class, small group, and individual) to differentiate instruction.
Use evidence-based grouping practices to meet the needs of all students, especially
those who struggle with reading and writing.
Physical environment designed to optimize students' use of traditional print in reading and writing instruction.
Use of routines to support reading and writing instruction.
Use of scaffolded support to provide opportunities for learning to read and write.
Elements of a Literacy Rich Content Area Classroom
- classroom libraries that include a variety of genres and text types
- content posters
- anchor charts – teacher-made and co-created with students
- word walls
- labels
- literacy workstations
- writing centers
- computers
- display of student work
- displays of books & information
- bulletin boards, and
- plenty of opportunity to read, write, listen, and speak
A Literacy-Rich Environment Encourages...
- speaking, listening, reading, and writing
- in authentic ways
- includes variety
- print & digital media
- supports content learning