ABSTRACT
Chapter 6 focuses on practices related to organizing classrooms and groups for literacy instruction. It begins by discussing the manner in which teachers’ beliefs and values impact instructional decisions. It then suggests several ways that classroom organization and instruction can be thoughtfully planned and implemented in order to support the overarching goal of meeting the needs of all learners. In doing so, the chapter identifies some different considerations for organizing time, space, and materials and explains how related practices shape the overall classroom environment. In particular, it addresses some important advantages and disadvantages of different methods of grouping students for instruction. For example, it discusses the use of flexible grouping and the formation of groups based on multiple characteristics, such as skills and strategies, interest and motivation, and ability levels. The chapter also includes a discussion of leveled texts and some recommendations for considering multiple factors when determining the appropriateness of particular texts for particular readers.
