This document summarizes a final class project where a group equated the layers of a rainforest to the different aspects of a balanced literacy program. They outlined a program with ground representing state standards, trees representing the five pillars of literacy, leaves representing reading strategies, rocks representing reading and writing instruction models, raindrops representing funding sources, and sunshine representing professional development. Through a presentation, the group was able to explain the connections between each aspect and show what makes a balanced literacy program. This project provided knowledge to develop and evaluate a reading program.
