Unit Overview/Summary

The ELA model units support the implementation of an effective and comprehensive core classroom (Tier I) reading instructional program. It is essential to select and implement instructional practices supported by a body of knowledge derived from scientifically-based reading research. Considering the multidisciplinary research on the science of reading and related instructional components, using evidence-based instructional methods, and learning activities that apply the components of the science of reading (i.e., phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary, and listening, reading, and language comprehension) facilitates students’ working knowledge of reading processes and skills. Additional information about foundational reading skills and the sub-skills or prerequisite skills students must acquire to achieve the foundational skills, can be found in the document, Building the Foundation: A Suggested Progression of Sub-skills to Achieve the Reading Standards: Foundational Skills in the Common Core State Standards. This document also contains a variety of instructional examples, organized by foundational skill and grade level.   

This unit focuses on nonfiction informational or explanatory texts in both reading and writing. This unit is meant to revisit work and deepen understandings initiated in previous units that touched upon genre distinctions and elements of nonfiction. This unit will allow students the opportunity to dissect the way key facts and information are communicated through text features, pictures, or other illustrations, as well as words in an explanatory text. Using informational or explanatory books as mentor texts, students will practice applying what they have learned to organize and communicate their thoughts and ideas in the creation of their informational texts. This unit continues to advance foundational and language skill development as students use syllable recognition to decode and encode two-syllable words with more complex spelling patterns (e.g., final -e and common vowel teams). 

Duration:

20 days (15 instructional days and 5 reteach/enrichment days); Based on 180 minutes to 240 minutes per day