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.   

Unit Focus:

This unit focuses on revisiting work and deepening understanding initiated in previous units that touched upon genre distinctions and elements of fiction. This unit will allow students the opportunity to focus closely on characters, and how their adventures and experiences shape readers’ understanding and interpretation of an author’s message. Students will practice analysis and evaluation as they compare and contrast characters and the experiences of characters in and across texts. Students will then apply their in-depth knowledge of a character they have read about, through writing, as they generate an opinion essay. This unit allows continued practice and development of automatic decoding and encoding of two-syllable words with more complex spelling patterns (final -e and common vowel teams). 

Unit Duration:  

30 days (25 instructional days and 5 reteach/enrichment days); Based on 180 minutes to 240 minutes per day