Module 4: Activity 2

Which NRP topic area(s) or "missing pillar(s)" that Allington describes do you find to be most vital for children's literacy success? 

While I believe that Allington makes several great and interesting points in her "missing pillars" I believe that the most vital two are giving children access to interesting texts and organizing the classroom teaching to include whole class and small groups. I think it is important to give children interesting texts because it lets them read while enjoying it. Even if they do not realize it, while they are reading these texts they are gaining background knowledge, discovering new words, seeing word patters, using fluency and gaining meaning. While these are all important reading strategies, they are strategies that can be used in reading of all subjects. Like Allington mentions in another pillar, it is important students can read their science book. So, if they are comfortable with reading and know how to do it well, when it comes time to read their science book they will be able to. I also think it is important to teach to the whole class as well as to small groups during reading. Teaching to the whole class allows you to introduce topics, look for meaning and have general discussion. Small groups allow for all of these things to be refined, but on a level that truly caters to the students in the small group. In a small group teachers can also better determine where each of their students are and help them accordingly. Small groups also allow for certain reading strategies to take place in a meaningful and useful way for the students. I particularly agree with these two points Allington makes.