Dear Sunset Ridge Families,
All elementary teachers in MCPASD are reading Shifting the Balance to deepen our understanding of the "Science of Reading" and recommended "shifts" in practice in what is known as a "balanced literacy" framework. This kind of work is all the buzz in education these days.
Much of our learning so far has focused on the importance of "oral language development," which emphasizes the critical role that speaking and listening have in terms of reading and writing. Said briefly, if students have the opportunity to hear and say language in context (imagine "caterpillar," "chrysalis," and "metamorphosis"), they'll have a much better chance of reading those words and understanding them.
There is also an emphasis on "phonological awareness" (a broad collection of skills related to listening, speaking, reading, and writing) with a focus on "phonemic" awareness (discreet sounds in words) and "phonics" (how letters correspond to sounds).
One of the useful resources offered to us is linked here - you might find some of the downloadable documents useful for supporting beginning literacy development: https://thesixshifts.com/downloads/
Brett Wilfrid, Principal
