Many parents have wondered what goes on during the 90 minute reading block and while it will look different in each classroom this information should help you better understand its necessity.  Research repeatedly shows that students need uninterrupted reading instruction everyday in order for reading development/growth to occur.  That same research also addresses that instructional delivery should match student needs and will be differentiated across the classroom.  Our teachers use formal and informal assessments to differentiate their instruction while focusing on the Five Big Ideas of Reading:  Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary and Comprehension.  Knowing the needs of our children allows teachers to focus on growing the individual and insuring that all needs are being met.  Typically teachers start off with whole group instruction where they introduce grade-level objectives and strategies to all students.  They will then move to small group instruction which allows students to work on their instructional level while practicing targeted objectives and strategies.  While the teacher is working with small groups the rest of the class is working in literacy stations.  These stations extend a child’s opportunity to practice previously taught knowledge and skills.  These stations may require a student to work in partners, small groups or independently.  In a recent article about Reading First studies, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said, “More than ever, our nation’s youngest readers are benefiting from the additional time (90/120 minute reading block)… We know that even schools not receiving Reading First funds are applying many of the strategies and seeing results.”  Know that our teachers are more deliberate with planning their reading instruction and insuring that all children meet or exceed their grade-level expectations.