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About the video:
Tier 1 and Tier 2 Explicit Instruction | Grade 1
highlights how structured, systematic literacy instruction supports early readers in a Grade 1 classroom.
In this classroom example from Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, explicit teaching focuses on foundational phonics concepts, including silent e patterns, long and short vowel sounds, spelling rules, and phonemic awareness routines. Tier 1 instruction is delivered through a clear scope and sequence, incorporating visual drills, auditory drills, modelling, guided practice, and hands-on activities such as magnet letters and dry erase boards.
The video also demonstrates how Tier 2 intervention is embedded throughout daily instruction. Short, targeted supports are provided for students who need additional reinforcement, with classroom teachers and literacy support staff working collaboratively to adapt instruction as needed. These brief, responsive interventions help ensure that students build strong foundational decoding and spelling skills.
This example illustrates how consistent, evidence-informed literacy instruction and tiered supports can strengthen early reading development while creating a classroom environment where support is part of the daily routine.
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