Veteran Teachers' Understanding of "Balanced Literacy". Issue 1 (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fisher, Douglas; Frey, Nancy; Lapp, Diane
• Is Part Of: Journal of education. Volume 203:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 188
• Page End: 195
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: literacy -- balanced literacy -- teacher preparation -- teaching -- equity; Education -- Periodicals; Education -- New England -- Periodicals; Education; New England; Periodicals; 370.5
• DOI: 10.1177/00220574211025980
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0574

Abstract

The term balanced literacy was popularized in the mid-1990s to describe a middle ground in terms of text selection, instruction, skills, and strategies. The intention was to merge the promising elements of whole language and phonics. Interactions with educators and literacy leaders across the country currently suggest that a term that had been seemingly well defined 20 years ago had become more vague. This descriptive study polled 25 veteran teachers to identify commonalities among their definitions and instructional applications.