Benchmark Performance: Teacher candidate will demonstrate an understanding of balanced literacy. Assignment: Write a research paper describing balanced literacy programs. (APA formatting is required) Assessment Method: A rubric will be provided. Describe the components (strategies) teachers employ in a balanced literacy program in elementary schools. Wherever possible, (at least five times), use specific references from post 2005, peer reviewed journal articles and research studies. There should be a variety of sources to strengthen your paper. Please limit the use of long quote format to no more than two. The research paper is to be organized into the following sections: I. Introduction: THIRD PERSON LANGUAGE Provide a brief history and a generally recognized and accepted definition of balanced literacy (no more than one page). State the foci of what you will do in your paper. II. Body: THIRD PERSON LANGUAGE List and describe some of the strategies that address each ELA goal. USE THE FOLLOWING ORDER: LISTENING: Begin by describing (a minimum of 3) recognized strategies teachers use to help students become better listeners (no more than one page). SPEAKING: Then describe (a minimum of 3) recognized strategies teachers use to help students become better speakers (no more than one page). READING: Discuss (a minimum of 3) recognized strategies that teachers use to help students become fluent readers (at least two pages but no more than four pages). WRITING: Discuss (a minimum of 3) recognized strategies that teachers use to help students become better writers (at least two pages but no more than four pages). VIEWING: Provide (a minimum of 3) examples of recognized strategies used by teachers to help students be intelligent viewers of internet stimuli, television, and media in general (no more than one page). VISUAL REPRESENTATION: Discuss when or how a teacher might help a student become a better writer through the use of visual representation (no more than one page). Many times this takes place in expository writing. For example, charts or tables may be added to student reports to make discussion clearer and more effective. You may consider using visual representation here! III. Application: FIRST PERSON LANGUAGE Identify three challenges that you expect to encounter in student teaching that may complicate the implementation of a balanced literacy program. Then, identify and describe possible solutions that you, the student teacher, could employ to overcome these challenges (no more than two pages). IV. Reflection: FIRST PERSON LANGUAGE Comment on balanced literacy. What will you take with you to student teaching? Does it work for all students (no more than one page)? All references must be from sources published since 2005 and must be cited using accurate APA guidelines. The text book we are using is: Tompkins, Gail, E. (2009). Language Arts; Patterns of practice. (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. If you can find it and use it as a resource that would be great!