Literacy Guidance for Families

Purpose

South Harrison Elementary School, in conjunction with The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is committed to giving every child the best possible start on their literacy journey. This guide helps parents and guardians understand how schools support literacy development in students and what to expect along the way.

Evidence Based Literacy Instruction

     Reading is a complex skill made up of many different parts that work together, much like the strands of a rope. Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001) is a visual model that helps explain how these skills combine to create strong readers. The Reading Rope has two main parts:

 • Word Recognition: This includes phonemic awareness (understanding sounds in words), phonics (connecting letters and sounds), and sight recognition of familiar words.

 • Language Comprehension: This includes vocabulary (knowing the meaning of words), background knowledge (understanding the topic), and verbal reasoning (making sense of ideas and stories).

As children grow into fluent readers, the strands weave together, strengthening reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. Reading and writing are intricately connected processes that reinforce each other, with improvements in one area naturally enhancing the other.

Reading and Writing Practices

To help children become strong readers and writers, there should be a focus on both understanding words and language. Research shows that effective literacy instruction includes certain key practices: 

1. Clear Learning Goals: Teachers clearly explain what students will learn and how they will show they understand it. 

2. Direct Instruction: Teachers introduce new skills with clear explanations, examples, and demonstrations. 

3. Guided Practice with Feedback: Students practice new skills with support from the teacher and receive helpful feedback along the way. 

4. Independent Practice: Students have opportunities to practice on their own, applying what they have learned without teacher help. 

5. Checking Understanding: Teachers regularly assess if students have mastered skills and decide if further support is needed. 

This approach ensures students are developing the skills they need to become proficient readers and writers.