This unique method is both multisensory and multidisciplinary. Students are instructed using a balanced literacy approach, which includes the development of phonemic awareness, phonics skills, shared reading and writing, and guided reading and writing. All students learn vocabulary through a variety of methods, develop high levels of comprehension, and utilize study skills in the pursuit of knowledge in all content areas. Students utilize indvidual learning styles as they learn spelling, proofreading, and penmanship. They read and write daily.
Students also participate in individual student-teacher conferences weekly.
Shreve Island serves as a model for other schools interested in employing a balanced literacy program. Many guests visit the school to become familiar with this unique approach to teaching the language arts. Through the writing process, students learn to generate their own topics for writing. They compose, revise, and edit their works until they have a finished product ready for publication. The writing process begins at the kindergarten level and is refined and becomes more sophisticated at each higher grade level.