Seven Pillars of Effective Literacy Educators Graphic OrganizerReading is a gateway to knowledge. Students deserve to acquire the skills that it takes to comprehend a text to be successful in life. Teachers are responsible for creating a good foundational path to that gate. According to the classic National Academy and Institute of Education's landmark report,) it is teacher knowledge, skill, and expertise that ensure that all students become active readers (Reutzel & Cooter, 2015). Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the skill-set of literacy teachers. The seven pillars as outlined by Reutzel and Cooter provide a framework for highly effective reading instruction (Reutzel & Cooter, 2015). Teacher KnowledgeThe first pillar, teacher knowledge encompasses multiple areas of expertise. These areas include the abilities of how to teach, classroom management techniques, designing a print rich environment with access to literature, staying abreast of the most effective teaching practices, and holding all students to high expectations (Laureate Education, 2012). To begin my year, I start out with a week of lessons focused on growth mindset to lay a foundation. This foundation is key to having a successful year of learning. Students are aware that I hold them to high expectations because they are aware of how their brains grow from performing challenges and using positive growth mindset language. On the first day of school, cooperatively my students and I create expectations of behavior within the classroom. Engaging students in creating classroom expectations helps ensure their investment in following the expectations. My fifth-grade classroom has a word-wall displaying the words students have learned; there are also co-created anchor charts hung on the walls, an interactive Boggle bulletin board, and a classroom library with a range of book levels and genres. There is a multitude of print materials for my students to engage in resulting in a print rich classroom. To conclude the first pillars of effective literacy instruction, I read professional books and implement strategies that I have gained from
