Instructional Practices

Curated by ILA's Literacy Research Panel, the Instructional Practices collection offers a framework of effective literacy practices. These short, easy-to-implement practices are grounded in research and will be a valuable addition to your teaching strategies and techniques.

This collection is available exclusively to ILA members.

Not a member? Check out the open-access practices in each of the four categories below and then join ILA to have access to all of the practices and other valuable resources.

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Instructional Practices

Families and Communities
These practices focus on the development and promotion of different aspects of early literacy, including rich opportunities to embed them in children's everyday activities. Read the full introduction to this category
- Open-Access Practice
  Reading E-Books as Support for Language and Early Literacy
  Ofra Korat
- The Benefits of Informational Books
  Deborah Bergman Deitcher
- Diversity and Family Literacy
  Jennifer D. Turner and Catherine Compton-Lilly
- Shared Book Reading in Preschools
  Dorit Aram
- Environmental Print in the Early Education System
  Yanling Zhao
- Writing in Early Education Settings
  Hope K. Gerde and Gary E. Bingham
- Bilingualism in Early Education
  Mila Schwartz
- The Power of Family Involvement in Literacy Learning
  Diane Lapp
- Electronic Literacy Games in Early Literacy Learning
  Michelle Neumann
- Early Literacy Supports for Children With Disabilities
  Lori Skibbe
Literacy Teaching and Teachers
This collection centers on the need for strong educator preparation programs and sustained professional learning that supports teachers' growth. Read the full introduction to this category
- Open-Access Practice
  Cultivating Literacy Leadership Among Future Literacy Professionals
  Laurie A. Sharp, Rebekah Piper, and Roberta D. Raymond
- Using Digital Tools to Enchance Literacy Coaching
  Christine M. Leighton, Evelyn Ford-Connors, and Dana A. Robertson
- Virtual Peer Coaching
  Sarah Vander Zanden
- Teaching Behind the Glass
  Christy Wessel Powell
- Examining Science Through the Eyes of Equity
  Maria Grant
- Promoting Disciplinary Literacy Through Partnerships Between Content Educators and Literacy Educators
  Nancy Frey
- Promoting Ongoing Professional Learning Using Text and Discussion Protocols
  Toni Faddis
- Emphasizing Teacher Growth Through Professional Learning Communities
  Vicki Vescio
- Supporting Preservice Teacher Learning Through Rehearsals
  Nicholas Husbye
- Providing Authentic Practice for Prospective Teachers
  Victoria Risko and Louann Reid
Schools and Schooling
Schoolwide practices that reflect and address expanded definitions of literacy and texts, ongoing assessment, and the building of leadership capacity in schools are explored in this collection. Read the full introduction to this category
- Open-Access Practice
  Principals as Literacy Leaders
  Rita M. Bean and Jacy Ippolito
- Formative Assessment
  Margaret Heritage
- Digital Citizenship
  Kip Glazer
- Personal Digital Inquiry
  Julie Coiro
- Student Self-Assessment
  Peter Afflerbach
- Digital Literacies
  Jill Castek
- Real-World Writing
  Maria Grant
- Visual Literacy
  Marva Cappello
- The Soft Skills of Communication in Literacy Leadership
  Celeste Bates and Denise Morgan
- Literacy Coaching
  Lindsay Clare Matsumura
Student Learning
Various topics on student literacy, learning, and engagement are included in these practices. Read the full introduction to this category
- Open-Access Practice
  Digital Divide
  Jennifer Rowsell and Ernest Morrell
- Engaging Students With Graphic Texts
  Stergios Botzakis
- Engaged Reading for Adolescents
  Gay Ivey
- Integrating Diverse Literature for Youth in Literacy Learning Experiences
  Denise Dávila
- The Power and Potentialities of Play in Literacy Learning
  Toni K. Flint
- Instruction That Works With Emergent Bilingual Students
  Amanda P. Goodwin and Robert Jiménez
- Stressing Engagement in Literacy Pedagogy
  Seth A. Parsons
- Powerful Literacy Learning Through Gaming and Imagination
  Antero Garcia
- Helping Parents Mobilize Social Resources to Promote Literacy Success
  Guofang Li and Tanya Christ
- Practice-Based Literacy Teaching
  James Hoffman

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