As part of our comprehensive approach to reading instruction, we include the following five components: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary within our literacy framework. Our writing instruction incorporates the writing process - prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing - to create narrative, informational, and opinion compositions in various formats. Both reading and writing instruction includes whole group, small group, and individual conferences with the teacher. Throughout the day, students also engage in various oral and written language activities in order to become clear and effective communicators.

The wealth of knowledge and experience our staff brings to Granite Street is one of the reasons why our students are successful learners. Staff members have been involved in professional development in the literacy realm from many years. This includes the school's involvement in the Reading First grant from the 2000s up to present day. During the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, all classroom teachers and other staff members read the books Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom for grades K-2 and 3-5 as well as participated in the corresponding online classes. They are continually engaging in researching and learning new techniques and skills they can incorporate into their classrooms and interventions in order to provide differentiated instruction to meet the varying needs of our students. This exemplifies their passion and dedication to staying informed about literacy education in order to create life long readers, writers, and communicators.

Millinocket School Department