How many of you are using this approach in your daily teaching practice?

It's very important that we utilize this concept. Balanced Literacy is a research-based approach that gives the teacher a chance to move instruction from modeling, to sharing, to guiding, and eventually to students working independently.

A Classroom Management Idea

One key strategy to good classroom management is planning. It is important to have a plan of implementation for your instructional day. Here's a tip:

If you have Active Inspire or any other interactive whiteboard program  in which you can create flip charts, I suggest that you create flip charts that focus on quick skills you can teach or review during those breaks in instruction when you need a quick meaningful filler. Think of them as quick "mini lessons."

Suggested Flip Chart Titles:
The Great Grammar Grind  
Resourceful Reading Review
Vocabulary Development
Special Spelling
Definition Dive
Multiplication Madness

Be creative with your chart titles and activities. You can use extra practice activities out of your teacher editions, resource books, practice test questions, graphic organizers, etc. Make charts as specific as needed to promote mastery and proficiency.

Teaching Literacy With a Twist

This was a great find on Pinterest. It was listed as Whole Group Answer Cards, but I found it useful as a formative assessment tool  and a classroom management tool especially for my younger learners during whole group. I am planning to use it as a review concept when we return from Christmas. For example, I made cards that represent figurative language concepts we have already covered. One way I plan to use this concept is to have my students write an example of personification, simile, metaphor, alliteration, and so on.
This was a great inexpensive idea. You only need index cards and markers!! Try it and tweak it to fit many concepts across the curriculum!!! Unlimited possibilities! (You can also get your students to make their own and keep them in a Ziploc bag. This way they can add their own creativity to the cards and take ownership of their learning.)