Effective literacy instruction includes explicit skill instruction in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. It is assessment-based and individualized to meet the needs of every student. Effective literacy instruction also reflects a gradual release of responsibility, whereby teachers gradually shift from teaching a skill, to coaching students while practicing the skill, to monitoring students utilize the skill with independence. Finally, research has demonstrated that a balanced approach to literacy instruction, where students engage in a variety of literacy experiences throughout the day, supports the development of lifelong readers and writers. Great Neck has partnered with the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP) to deliver literacy instruction that aligns with our core philosophy and the Next Generation Learning Standards in English Language Arts.