Topic: What's the point? Days: 20 Key Learning: The main idea or essential point of a text may be explicitly stated or inferred. Readers and writers use supporting details to determine the main idea. The more you write and read, the better you become at both. How do readers and writers connect the main idea and supporting details to create meaning? Main Idea Main Idea - Inferred Self-Monitoring How do readers identify main idea How do readers determine the main when it is explicitly stated? idea when it is inferred? How is inductive reasoning used to draw conclusions? Where might the main idea be located within a paragraph? (inductive reasoning) How do readers "look back" in text for recalling and locating information? (Knowledge Strand -assessment) How is error analysis used to find errors in thinking? How do readers determine if the main idea is explicitly stated or inferred? (error analysis) What strategies do readers use when they come to an unknown word during reading? (inductive reasoning) How do good readers monitor and repair understanding as they read? What questions can be asked to determine understanding of main Idea and supporting details? (Comprehension strand - assessment) explicit, main idea, relevant details, recall, look back inferred, error analysis repair strategies, rereading, predicting, questioning, clarifying using other sources, dictionary, encyclopedia Page 1 of 2
Topic: What's the point? Days: 20 Summarizing Writing for Meaning How do readers summarize using main idea and details? How are main idea and details used to write summaries of narrative texts? How are summarizes written for expository text showing an understanding of facts and opinions? How do listeners summarize key points from a lecture? How are spelling patterns used to identify errors in writing? (error analysis) What do I need to understand from what I read to discuss with others the most important details? How can sentence lengths and types make your writing more interesting? How can word choice make your writing more interesting? Why is voice important in writing? summarizing, narratives, facts, voice, Style opinions, expository Page 2 of 2
Topic: Literary Elements Days: 20 Key Learning: Plot structure is a story organization through which characters develop, change and resolve their problems. An effective plot creates and holds the interest of readers. What techniques do authors use to keep the reader "turning the page"? Plot development Author's Purpose/Theme Responding to Text How can readers use a plot diagram to How can we use inductive reasoning to map the plot of a story? determine the author's purpose? How is character development related to plot? How do readers summarize the plot of a story? How can readers compare and contrast the plot in different selections? How is theme more than plot? How do writers construct support for an opinion? How can readers use evidence from the text to construct support for how an author develops the theme? (Constructing Support) How do readers write and share a book report that does more than just retell the story? What strategies are used by effective listeners? How are peer reviews and rubrics used to assess and improve writing? (error analysis) How can we write a friendly letter to a story character that reflects on the events in the story and the lessons learned? plot structure, exposition, setting, character development, problem, resolution Inductive reasoning, theme, abstracting, construct support, opinion, evidence summary, theme, response, notetaking, heading, greeting, body, closing, salutation Learning New Words How do we use knowledge of synonyms and antonyms to figure out the meaning of words? How do readers identify "shades of meaning" in related words? How do I decide what strategy to use when I see a word I don't already know? synonym, antonym Page 1 of 1
Topic: Literary Connections Days: 24 Key Learning: Because human needs, emotions and experiences are much the same, readers are able to make connections across time and text, yet each person makes his own connections How do readers make connections across time and texts? Making Connections Patterns Across Texts Point-of-View & Voice How do readers describe connections using evidence from the text? (Constructing Support) How is abstracting used to find patterns? Why do writers choose a particular point-of-view to tell a story? How is analyzing perspectives used to describe viewpoints? How can different readers relate to the same story in different ways? (Analyzing Perspective) How does linking new information to prior knowledge or life experiences strengthen comprehension? (Comprehension Strand & connection strand -assessment) How does comparing and contrasting elements in multiple texts help readers make connections? (compare/ contrast) What common themes can be found in the stories we read? (abstracting) Why have vocabulary and language patterns changed in literary texts from past to the present? (compare/ contrast) What should you think about before reading a story? What are the components of voice in writing? What makes a writer's voice unique? How does point of view affect voice? (analyzing perspectives) Text-to-self, Text-to-world, Text-totext, Language pattern, abstracting Point-of-view, voice analyzing perspectives Page 1 of 2
Topic: Literary Connections Days: 24 Using Elements to Tell a Story Theatre How do writers get ideas for stories How can a short story be turned into a that will appeal to their audience? skit? How are story boards used to organize and write a short story Including plot, characterization and dialogue? (abstracting) How do writers evaluate and revise a draft for point of view and voice? How are fluency and expression used to read a skit? What skills are used to write formal invitations and thank you notes? What rules are used to edit capitalization and punctuation, including dialogue? How do writers publish using technology and graphics? Story board skit, invitations, thank you notes Page 2 of 2
Topic: Cause/Effect Days: 18 Key Learning: There are different cause/effect relationships which may be used to connect ideas. Cause and effect relationships help individuals understand what makes things happen and predict the outcome of their actions. How do cause/effect relationships help readers and writers to connect ideas within a text? Cause/Effect Relationships Cause/Effect Text Structure Constructing Support Using Cause/Effect What types of cause/effect relationships may be described in text? (classifying/categorizing) How is deductive reasoning used to support or prove a general statement? How do I construct support for a position in a formal letter? (constructing support) How are causes used to predict what may happen? (inductive reasoning) Critical analysis strand- assessment How do readers identify cause/effect relationships in a text and use to connect ideas? Connection strandassessment How does a reader locate and describe the cause/effect text structure in nonfiction passage? (deductive reasoning) What questions might be asked before, during or after reading a cause/effect passage to deepen understanding and clarify information? (deductive reasoning) comprehension strand - assessment How do writers organize a draft of a formal letter using a logical sequence and combining or deleting sentences to clarify? How do writers include a variety of sentence types and punctuate them correctly? (Compare/Contrast) How do writers edit for verb tenses and noun/verb agreements? How does the reader adjust reading rate based on purpose, text difficulty and style? (deductive reasoning) How can technology be used to polish a letter? Page 1 of 1
Topic: Nonfiction Days: 20 Key Learning: Nonfiction is the presentation of facts and beliefs by a writer which they believe to be true. The main purpose of nonfiction is providing information so being simple, clear and organized is important. How is nonfiction written and read to view clear and meaningful information in an organized manner? Nonfiction Text Features Expository Essays What are the characteristics and functions of a variety of non-fiction texts (inductive reasoning) How are text features used to locate and organize information? How do writers plan and organize an expository essay? How do formats and sequence of types of non-fiction text differ? How are text features used prior to reading? (inductive reasoning) critical analysis strand How do writers write an expository essay with introductory, body and concluding paragraphs? How are base words, prefixes, and suffixes used to figure out difficult words? How are fiction and non-fiction alike and different? (compare/contrast) How do authors write an article using text features? How do readers scan text to locate information? How do writers create interesting leads? (classifying, categorizing) nonfiction, reference, practical, functional, format, biography, journal, article, newspaper, sequence text features, graphics, legends, maps, diagrams, illustrations, charts, table of contents, glossary, headings expository essay, leads Page 1 of 2
Topic: Nonfiction Days: 20 Editing Essays How do writers edit for subject/verb agreement? (error analysis) What types of pronouns may be used in sentences? How do writers edit for noun/pronoun agreement? How is the apostrophe used to show possessive? (error analysis) Subject/verb agreement, Noun/ pronoun agreement, Subjective pronoun, objective pronoun, demonstrative pronoun, possessive, apostrophe Page 2 of 2
Topic: Text Structures* Days: 13 Key Learning: Knowledge of a text structure helps the reader better understand the text. Each text structure suggests questions that a reader might ask before reading and answer after completing the passage. How are text structures used by readers and writers to organize and make sense of information? Types of Text Structures Interpreting Text Procedural Information How do readers use signal words to identify text structures (inductive reasoning) word meaning strand How do writers use graphic organizers based on text structures to write summaries? How do readers read and interpret procedures and instructions in texts? How do readers use graphic organizers based on a text structure for chunking and clarifying information? (classifying/categorizing) How is information provided by creating a visual aid (charts, tables and graphs)? What criteria is used to choose the best visual aid for sharing information? (classifying/categorizing, critical analysis strand) How do I effectively write procedures and instructions for others to follow? How do writers evaluate a draft for logical organization? text structures, compare/contrast, cause/effect, sequencing, chunking, clarifying visual aids, criteria procedures, "how to" manuals, recipes, directions, instructions, Organization Page 1 of 1
Topic: Poetry Days: 18 Key Learning: Poetry allows us to use the gifts of figurative language, rhythm and words to express our ideas and feelings. How does poetry allow us to use language techniques, rhythm and word choice to express ideas and feelings? Characteristics of Poetry Language Techniques in Poetry Interpreting Poetry How do I recognize poetry when I see How does listening to poetry help me it? understand the meaning? How do readers distinguish between the sub-genres of fiction and nonfiction? (classifying/categorizing) How do poets use language techniques and words to describe people, feelings and objects? How does language choice help develop mood and meaning in poetry? (inductive reasoning) How does a poet's perspective influence the text? (constructing support) critical analysis strandassessment How are poems read aloud to reflect the beauty of the language and rhythm? How does a reader identify common main idea and theme across poems or poem/other writings? (abstracting) connections strand What connections can I make to the poem and my personal experiences? (compare/contrast) connections strand Rhythm, Rhyme, Form, Style Figurative language, Personification, Onomatopoeia, Simile, Metaphor, Symbolixm, Mood Perspective, Theme, Interpret Writing Poetry How do writers create poems and song lyrics that employ figurative language and rhythm? How do poets revise writing to create interest through varying language and word choice? Rhythm, Word Choice Page 1 of 1
Topic: Persuasive Text Days: 15 Key Learning: Persuasive writing may be used for the purpose of influencing the reader. The writer is trying to convince the reader to think or behave in a certain way. How do writers use persuasive techniques to influence the reader's thinking or actions? Persuasive Techniques Organizing to Write Persuasive Essay What persuasive techniques might be used by a writer? (inductive reasoning) How do writers use propaganda? What processes are used in logical reasoning? What is the difference in logical reasoning and propaganda? (deductive reasoning ) How do writers create a pre-writing plan to focus on a position and supporting facts? (construct support) How do writers create precision and interest through word choice? What words or techniques create emotional appeal? How does my purpose and audience determine how I organize my writing? How are techniques used to write a persuasive essay by developing a controlling idea with supporting arguments, and detailed evidence? (construct support) How should a writer evaluate a draft of a persuasive essay for point-of-view and voice? (analyzing perspectives) How would a writer revise a draft by using repetition of words for emphasis? Repetition, emotional appeal, Precision, persuasive essay Arguments, evidence, emphasis propaganda, logical reasoning Page 1 of 1
Topic: Responding to Reading Assessments Days: 10 Key Learning: Readers use reading strategies and skills as well as testing strategies to respond to assessment questions. Test takers use signal words to determine strategies to organize information and select test answers. How do readers read and respond to assessment questions? Test Taking Strategies Looking Back to Locate Information Reading for Meaning What process is used when answering What signal words are used to aid in assessment questions? comprehension? How does a reader summarize what they have read? How do I "make a move in my mind" as I read? What strategies do good test takers use? What words are used to signal a "look back" question or for locating information? How do I use text features to help me locate information quickly and accurately? (inductive reasoning) What strategies help me organize and recall information? How do readers use text clues to "read between the lines" in an assessment passage? (inductive reasoning) How do readers choose a reading comprehension strategy or strategies to help answer a test question? SMART, READ, Summarizing assessment, look back, signal words, locate, identify, find, list meaning, clarify, clues, infer, importance, describe, predict, significance, understand, illustrate Page 1 of 2
Topic: Responding to Reading Assessments Days: 10 Making Connections Examining Texts Word Meaning How do I make connections using the title and visuals? How do I think "beyond the text" and make connections to my real life experiences or other texts? How can the reader use the title and visuals to get an idea of why the text was written? How do I explain the author's use of language? How do I explain the author's purpose for selecting text features? How do I read like a writer to "critique the lines"? How might a writer do with the information in the text? How do readers use familiar words to help visualize and understand during reading? What strategies are used to determine the meaning of unknown words in an assessment passage? connections, solve, relationship, decide, experience, classify, associate, process, association categorize, review, judge, evaluate, examine, compare, source, explain, consider, question meant, clue, context, image, association, phrase, visualize, term Page 2 of 2
Topic: Research Days: 9 Key Learning: Research allows a person to collect and process information about a topic from a variety of sources, then organize and present that information to others. How do researchers carefully select information on a topic, then organize, write and present a report to others? Search Plan Gather and Record Information Presenting Data How do researchers use related words and questions about a topic to refine a search plan? How are facts and opinions gathered from various sources, organized and recorded in a systematic way? How do researchers communicate information in a report including main idea and relevant details? How are appropriate sources selected for research? How do I recognize propaganda when I see it? (error analysis) How do researchers paraphrase and record quotes while notetaking? How might visual supports be included in a research report? (inductive reasoning) How do writers record bibliographic data and cite quotes? How might production elements be used to create a media message to share my research? Search plan, sources, readability, Systematic process Research report, bibliography, cite, accuracy, currency media message, digital tools Page 1 of 1