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1. Learning the 42 main letter sounds in English (not just the alphabet - includes digraphs)
2. Learning letter formation
3. Blending sounds from letters to make words
4. Identifying sounds that make up words
5. Spelling tricky words
Grades 1 - 2: Teachers in grades 1 – 2 use a guided reading approach. The guided reading program includes carefully leveled books specifically designed to help students learn and practice the skills appropriate for each stage of reading development.
The goals of guided reading are to:
»Teach comprehension skills and strategies
»Expose children to wide range of literature
»Teach children to read in materials that become increasingly more difficult
»Develop background knowledge, meaning vocabulary and oral language
»Maintain the motivation and self-confidence of struggling readers.
Students learn writing, spelling, and grammar in two ways. Teachers introduce grammar, spelling and punctuation over a 36-week period using Jolly Grammar, a follow-up from Jolly Phonics. Teachers also use the Lucy Calkins’ Writing program. Students learn to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish their writing.
Grades 3 – 5: The Trophies series by Harcourt / Holt combines reading, language arts, grammar, and spelling into an exciting format for students. This series is closely aligned to the Illinois State Assessment Frameworks. (Harcourt is the same company who publishes the state ISAT tests in the spring.) The Trophies series also offers a continuation of the guided reading approach used in the primary grades with a wide range of leveled readers for each grade.
Trophies has a multitude of online resources for parents and students to take advantage of at home. Students can get extra help with vocabulary for the week, grammar, writing, homework and more. There is even an online test tutor to help students better prepare.
Click on the red box LEARNING SITE.
Click on the top yellow box READING.
Then select the blue TROPHIES logo.
Type in the password “beck" (one of the authors). You can check a box to save the password so you won't have to remember it.
Grades 6 – 8: Students in grade 6 receive instruction in both Reading and Language Arts. Students in grades 7 and 8 receive Language Arts. Teachers use Holt / Harcourt’s 2007 Elements of Language and Elements of Literature.
Elements of Literature is a structured, sequential program developed to help students meet state and national standards as they study diverse collections of contemporary and classic writing. Elements of Language addresses a range of literacy through lessons focusing on reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and representing.
The Holt website links students and parents to a vast collection of educational materials. With just a click of the mouse, students can complete structured web-based activities directly related to their textbooks. There are also online editions of the texts available for students to use when away from their hard cover books.
Using a keyword found in the front of the textbook, students and parents can go to the Holt, Rinehart and Winston website by clicking on the name here.
