K-5 Whole-Group Literacy Instruction: Sample Schedule and Activities

Here are examples of ways to organize whole class instruction across K-5. Notice that each sample emphasizes different components of reading and are designed to support student progress across the literacy development continuum.

This is an example only, and meant to allow for flexibility — each teacher should adjust their whole group instruction to best meet the assessed needs of the class.

K – 1st whole group example

Literacy Component	Estimated Time	Sample Activities
Oral Language Concepts of Print	10-12 min.	Shared reading of big book or projected text Echo or choral reading or shared texts.
Phonological Awareness	5-10 min.	Target one area of phonological awareness daily using a systematic curriculum For example: 2-3 phoneme blending and segmentation Tie examples to print (see phonics)
Alphabet Knowledge Phonics	10-12 min.	Daily cumulative review (1-2 min) Read or write letter-sound or targeted feature
Oral Language Vocabulary Reading Comprehension	15-20 min.	Teacher read-aloud (dialogic reading) Introduce and practice targeted vocabulary words
Writing Instruction	15-20 min.	Daily handwriting Dictated words or sentence/s Sentence construction exercises Writing workshop
Total daily whole group time	30-40 min.	Total time and components may vary across the week

1st – early 2nd whole group example

Literacy Component	Estimated Time	Sample Activities
Fluency Review alphabet, phonics, phonemic awareness, and decoding skills	5-8 min. (At least 2 times/week)	Echo or choral reading of a poem, speech or song Practice reading or spelling targeted high-frequency words
Phonemic Awareness (tied to phonics)	5 min.	Do one phonemic awareness activity daily. Align examples with phonics lesson.
Phonics	10-15 min.	Review phonics features daily (1-2 min. drill) Read and write words with target feature/s Model how to read/write multisyllabic words
Vocabulary Reading Comprehension	15-20 min. (At least 3 times/week)	Teacher read-aloud (dialogic reading) Teach and practice 1-2 vocabulary words Intro simple prefixes, suffixes in new words
Writing Instruction	10-15 min.	Handwriting instruction Daily journals Dictated sentence/s Sentence and paragraph construction exercises Writing workshop intro
Total daily whole group time	20-30 min.	Total time and components may vary across the week

2nd – 3rd whole group example

Literacy Component	Estimated Time	Sample Activities
Fluency	5-10 min.	Echo or choral reading of poem, speech, or text excerpt Word hunt for high-frequency words and phonics words.
Phonics Spelling	10-15 min.	Practice reading/spelling words with target feature/s Dictated words or sentences
Vocabulary Reading Comprehension	15-20 min. (At least 3 times/week)	Teacher read-aloud Model or practice a comprehension strategy or skill Introduce and practice targeted vocabulary words
Writing Instruction	10-15 min.	Daily journals Daily sentence and paragraph construction exercises Extended time to write in writer’s workshop
Total daily whole group time	20-30 min.	Total time and components may vary across the week

4th – 5th whole group example

Component	Estimated Time	Sample Activities
Spelling Morphology Vocabulary	10 min.	Introduce spelling and meaning patterns in multisyllabic words Research word origins and generate related words Generate words with common prefixes, roots, and suffixes Introduce Greek and Latin roots
Vocabulary Reading Comprehension	15-30 min.	Teacher read-aloud Model or practice a comprehension strategy or skill Teach and practice targeted vocabulary Oral or written response to read-aloud
Writing Instruction	10-15 min.	Daily journals Daily sentence construction and combining Paragraph and longer compositions Extended time to write in writer’s workshop
Total whole group time	20-30 min.	Total time and components may vary across the week