Grades K to 3 Literacy Resources
Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: Grades K to 3
The purpose of early literacy essentials for grades K through third is to improve children's literacy in Michigan. Professional development throughout the state can focus on this set of research-supported literacy instructional practices for daily use in the classroom.
Early elementary education can help improve literacy proficiency outcomes. Research suggests that each of the 10 practices outlined in this document can positively impact literacy development.
The use of these practices in every Michigan classroom every day can make a measurable, positive difference in the state's literacy achievement.
This document is intended to be read in concert with Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy: Prekindergarten. There is important overlap and continuity in these two documents, and some children will benefit from instructional practices identified in the prekindergarten document beyond the prekindergarten year.
Essential Coaching Practices for Elementary Literacy: Coaching
Literacy essential instructional practices aim to improve children's literacy in Michigan. This set of research-supported literacy coaching practices should be a focus of professional development throughout the state.
Literacy coaching the essentials can provide powerful job-embedded, ongoing professional development while enhancing literacy instruction through teacher expertise. Effective literacy coaching helps teachers successfully navigate the daily challenges they face in their classrooms. As a result, instructional capacity and sustainability increase within schools.
Expert research suggests that each of the 10 practices outlined in this document can positively impact literacy development. The use of these practices in every Michigan classroom every day can make a measurable, positive difference in the state's literacy achievement.
This document is intended to be partnered with Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: Prekindergarten and Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: K to 3 and Essential School-Wide and Center-Wide Practices in Literacy.
Literacy Essentials Reflection Tools Landing Page
These reflection tools are supportive resources for Michigan educators to use as they self-reflect on their implementation and use of the Essential Instructional Practices, Coaching Practices, and Systems Practices and plan for their professional and organizational growth.
- Early Literacy Coaches' Self-Reflection and Goal Setting Worksheet K-5 TOOL
- Self-Reflection and Planning Guide: Essentials Practices in Early Literacy K to 3 K-3 TOOL
- Screening Tool for the School-Wide Organizational Practices K-5 TOOL
- K-3 Literacy Essentials Practice Profile K-3 TOOL
Videos of Sample Practices
K-3 Essential 1
K-3 Essential 1, Bullet 1: Goal Setting Sample Video
K-3 Essential 1, Bullet 2: Choices in Reading and Writing Sample Video
K-3 Essential 1, Bullet 3: Collaboration Sample Video
K-3 Essential 1, Bullet 4: Writing for a Purpose Sample Video
K-3 Essential 1, Bullet 5: Motivation Sample Video
K-3 Essential 2
K-3 Essential 2, Bullet 1: Conceptually-Related Read Alouds Sample Video
K-3 Essential 2, Bullet 3: Vocabulary in Read Alouds Sample Video
K-3 Essential 2, Bullet 4: Higher-order Discussions Sample Video
K-3 Essential 2, Bullet 5: Instructional Strategies During Read Alouds Sample Video
K-3 Essential 3
K-3 Essential 3, Bullet 2: Coaching Reading in Small Groups Sample Video
K-3 Essential 3, Bullet 3: Small Group Fluency Instruction Sample Video
K-3 Essential 3, Bullet 4: Small Group Literacy Strategies Sample Video
K-3 Essential 4
K-3 Essential 4, Bullet 1: Rhyming & Blending Sample Video
K-3 Essential 4, Bullet 2: Sorting Pictures by Sound Sample Video
K-3 Essential 4, Bullet 3: Sound Boxes Sample Video
K-3 Essential 4, Bullet 4: Blending Sounds in Words Sample Video
K-3 Essential 4, Bullet 5: Spelling with Sounds Sample Video
K-3 Essential 5
K-3 Essential 5, Instruction in Letter-Sound Relationships Sample Video
K-3 Essential 5, Assessment Sample Video
K-3 Essential 6
K-3 Essential 6, Bullet 1: Interactive Writing Experience Sample Video
K-3 Essential 6, Bullets 2&4: Daily Writing Opportunities Sample Video
K-3 Essential 6, Bullet 3: Writing Strategy Instruction Sample Video
K-3 Essential 6, Bullet 4: Mentor Texts Sample Video
K-3 Essential 6, Bullet 5: Instruction in Capitalization, Letter Formation, and Sentence Construction Sample Video
K-3 Essential 7
K-3 Essential 7, Bullet 1: Intentional Vocabulary Building Sample Video
K-3 Essential 7, Bullets 2&3: Vocabulary in Read Aloud Sample Video
K-3 Essential 7, Bullets 3&4: Vocabulary in Content-Area Discussion Sample Video
K-3 Essential 7, Bullet 5: Morphology Sample Video
K-3 Essential 8
K-3 Essential 8: Providing Access to a Wide Range of Texts Sample Video
K-3 Essential 8: Organizing and Presenting Reading Materials Sample Video
K-3 E8 Supporting Independent Reading Sample Video
K-3 Essential 9
K-3 Essential 9, Bullet 2 Observation Sample Video
K-3 Essential 9, Bullet 3&4 Assessment Sample Video