The goal of any good literacy learning resource is to inform, engage, support and individualize instruction, in order to allow students opportunities to develop and expand literacy skills with confidence. Tilley Adventures in Reading has been designed with these goals in mind, and is intended to complement the teacher instruction already occurring in a Grade 1 classroom. To this end, Tilley Adventures in Reading acknowledges and addresses the following components of a balanced approach to literacy learning:
Reading
At the Grade 1 level, the goal of the teacher is to move students from supported reading experiences to independent reading experiences, in a systematic and intentional way. Components of this part of a literacy program include read aloud, shared reading, guided reading and independent reading. Throughout each of these components, supports are present to meet students at their current level of achievement, and are faded out to encourage children to become more independent as learners. Tilley Adventures in Reading provides picture cues, phonic support, and contextual cues to help students develop their skills in word recognition, decoding and comprehension skills.
Writing
In Grade 1, students move from supported writing experiences to independent writing experiences by exposure to a variety of texts and strategies. Beginning with predictable or patterned writing based on a model, students can apply the knowledge they acquire through reading to their writing experiences. Tilley Adventures in Reading offers suggestions in the Teacher's Guide for independent writing frames and guided writing experiences that can be shared with the class.
Working With Words
At this level, students are developing a cache of high frequency words that they have mastered. As well, they are learning to use predictable patterns within words to extend their knowledge and skills. Since these skills are the building blocks for writing and reading, Tilley Adventures in Reading provides a variety of activities to expose children to new vocabulary, phonic patterns and high frequency words. Each Tilley Adventures in Reading story is accompanied by three online activities that target critical Grade One literacy skills. All activities are outlined in the teacher's guide, with a sneak peak at the literacy and technology skills students will require to complete the task.
