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1.Discuss three effective elements in literacy practice. Phonics: being able to associate letters and combinations of letters to the appropriate sounds. Vocabulary: understanding words to communicate effectively. Phonemic awareness: being about to isolate and add sounds in words.

2. Discuss research based perspectives on catering to the diversity and needs of ESL students and struggling readers. I read a case study titled __Literacy Assessment and Student Diversity: An Australian Case Study.__ This case study was performed by Christina E. Van Kraayennoord, Jenny Barnett, David Roberts, and Karen Moni. All four of these individuals are college professors at the University of Queenland in Austrialla. This study reported on the problems and challenges teachers face when assessing diverse students. Most of the problems lie in cultural differences. Diverse students are not accustomed to certain phrases or rituals of their new country or geographic region. The problems lie in assessments where the diverse don’t understand the question or the process. Teachers have to be very careful in choosing reading selections, assignments, and assessments when they have ESL students in their classroom. If they believe the student is struggling, it might not be the case. It might actually be because the student is not familiar with the words or phrases in the reading selection or with the type of formal assessment.

3. Discuss balanced literacy instruction focusing on independent learning. In balanced literacy instruction students must be given the opportunity to read independently. They should be able to practice what they learn during whole group instruction and apply it do their independent reading.

4. Identify the environment that is needed for optimum literacy learning. First off, as in any educational setting, the teacher needs to have high expectations for all students. If a student knows what a teacher expects from them, then they will push themselves to the limit and learn as much as possible. Next, instruction should be student-centered, meaning teacher should choose their topics for reading and writing based on interests in the class. If the students are interested they will stay involved. Along with being student centered, the students should have the opportunity to choose what they would like to read and write about. This will also keep them activly learning and engaged. The students also need to know the purpose of each assignment and how it applies to the real world. Real world applications make the students feel as though their hard work is necessary. There are many factors that influence a students “want” to learn. These are the topics I think are most influential.

5. Discuss balanced literacy instruction and tailoring instructional strategies to the specific needs of each student. Balanced literacy instruction is reading instruction based in phonics and whole language. Together, these approaches should be used to help a student with any learning style learn to be a successfully reader.