What’s in Your Suitcase?

What’s in Your Suitcase?

Getting the Most from Your Core

Reading Program

Colorado Reading First, 2005

Colorado Reading First, 2005 2

Content StandardsContent StandardsRecognize the scope and sequence for instruction within core reading program materials that address each of the five essential components of reading. Recognize the organization of the teacher’s manual and the commonalities within core reading program materials.

What is a core reading program?

What is a core reading program?

The primary instructional tool used in Colorado Reading First classrooms to guide systematic readinginstruction

© 2005, Colorado Reading First

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A core reading seriesA core reading series

• Written to reflects current reading research

• Field tested prior to distribution

• Addresses the instructional needs of a majority of the general student population

The better the core addresses instructional priorities, the less teachers

will need to supplement and modify instruction for the majority of learners.

Louisa Moats , In Simmons and Kame’enui, 2003

© 2005, Colorado Reading First

Unpacking Your SuitcaseUnpacking Your Suitcase

© 2005, Colorado Reading First

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Core DesignCore Design

The core is written to guide students through a systematic scope and sequence of reading instruction

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Activity: Scope and SequenceActivity: Scope and Sequence

1. Find a partner who teaches at your grade level.

2. Together, locate the scope and sequence for instruction in your teacher’s manual.

3. Complete Core Reading Handout # 1, for your grade level.

4. At the signal, find a new partner that does not teach at your grade level.

5. Compare Core Reading Handout #1. What did you notice?

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Reflection: Value of a scope and sequenceReflection: Value of a scope and sequence

• Pull out the Core Reading Reflection Sheet (Activity #1)

• Of what value is a core series scope and sequence to a teacher of reading?

Organization of a CoreOrganization of a Core

The core is organized around a weekly plan.

© 2005, Colorado Reading First

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The weekly plan is divided into daily plans.

Organization of a CoreOrganization of a Core

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• Provide instructional support in each component

• Support whole group, small group and independent activities

• Provide opportunities to introduce, practice, and extend reading skills and strategies

• Provide pacing guidelines

Organization of a CoreOrganization of a CoreThe weekly core instruction is planned to:

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1. Locate Handout #2, “Organization of Teacher’s Manual.”

2. Form into grade level teams with no more than 4 members on a team.

3. As a team, use your Teacher’s Manuals to complete Handout # 2.

4. What patterns do you notice?

Activity: Organization of the Teacher’s Manual

Activity: Organization of the Teacher’s Manual

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Reflection: Why Use a Core?Reflection: Why Use a Core?

• Refer to the Core Reading Reflection Sheet (Activity #2)

• Reflect on the benefits of using a core reading program as the primary instructional guide for reading instruction.

The selection and adoption of an effective research-based core reading program is a critical step in the development of an effective schoolwide reading initiative.

The investment in identifying a core program that aligns with research and fits the needs of learners in your school will reap long-term benefits for children’s reading acquisition and development.

Simmons and Kame’enui, 2003

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Thank You!Thank You!

This concludes Part I of this presentation.

What’s in Your Suitcase?

What’s in Your Suitcase?

Getting to Know Your Core Reading

Program

© 2005, Colorado Reading First

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Commonalties of Effective Instruction

Commonalties of Effective Instruction

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Commonalties of Effective Instruction

Commonalties of Effective Instruction

• Skills explicitly taught • Literature emphasis • Much reading and writing • Matching of tasks to student competency • Excellent classroom management • Self-Regulation encouraged • Positive, reinforcing, cooperative environment

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1. For each table you will need a piece of chart paper and some markers

2. With the help of everyone at your table, brainstorm reasons that you would choose to use a core reading series

3. When time is called post your chart on a wall in the room

Activity: Brainstorm on Why to Use a Core

Activity: Brainstorm on Why to Use a Core

Unpacking Your SuitcaseUnpacking Your Suitcase

© 2005, Colorado Reading First

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Teacher’s ManualTeacher’s Manual

• What to teach

• How to teach

• When to teach

A guide to:

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Fidelity to Core Fidelity to Core

• Teaching to the goals noted in the guides • Teaching the lesson in the manner noted in the

guides • Teaching the lesson in the sequence noted in

the guide• Using the instructional materials and

assessments noted in the guides

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• Refer to the Core Reading Reflection Sheet (Activity #3)

• Why is using a core with fidelity important to the successful implementation of a core reading series?

Reflection: Value of Fidelity to CoreReflection: Value of Fidelity to Core

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1. Find a partner who teaches at your grade level.

2. Each of you should have a Unit 1 Teacher’s Manual

3. Complete Core Reading Handout # 3, for your grade level.

4. Consider the Commonalties of Effective Instruction that are represented in the Teacher’s Manual

Activity: Scavenger HuntActivity: Scavenger Hunt

Teaching reading is far more complex than most professionals and laypersons realize. The demands of the phonologic, alphabetic, semantic, and syntactic systems of written language require a careful schedule and sequence of prioritized objectives, explicit strategies, and scaffolds that support students’ initial learning and transfer of knowledge and skills to other contexts.

Louisa Moats, 1998

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• Refer to the Core Reading Reflection Sheet (Activity #4)

• Why are routines and procedures important to the successful implementation of a core reading series?

Reflection: Value of Routines and ProceduresReflection: Value of Routines and Procedures

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The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.

Plato, 428 BC-348 BC

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Thank You!Thank You!

This concludes the presentation.