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    Reading Programs

     

    * Our programs that we use at Hamilton are Journeys and components of Fundations.

    Priority skills in the reading series are the following:

    —*Balanced Literacy Approach: gradual release of responsibility to include whole group(modeling), small group(guided practice), and independent reading and writing

    —*Technology for 21st century instruction

     

    1.Phonemic Awareness and Phonics

    • Explicit instruction
    • Phonemic awareness taught through the use of oral language, songs, rhymes
    • Based on principles of language and concepts of print
    • Differentiated to meet students’ needs
    • Integrated with spelling and writing
    • Strategic and intensive intervention as needed

     

    1. Reading and Writing
    • —Program organization and components are same beginning in K and continues through 6th
    • —Spiraling curriculum throughout all grades
    • —Cohesive instruction in strategy and skills for whole group and small group instruction
    • —Integrates technology and digital resources
    • —Includes formal and informal assessment
    • —Aligned to Common Core Standards
    • —Every writing lesson focuses on both form and traits of writing
    1. Fluency
    • —Accuracy in word recognition
    • Expression and intonation
    • —Natural phrasing
    • —Pausing and attending to punctuation
    • —Reading rate and stress
    • Retelling
    1. Vocabulary, Word Study and Spelling
    • Integrated throughout whole group and small group reading instruction
    • Vocabulary incorporated with word study, phonics, and spelling
    • Word Study developed by Shane Templeton, author of “Words Their Way”
    1. Comprehension
    • Strategic Instruction: includes stop and think strategy, questioning, summarizing, inferring, identifying story elements, connections, predictions, collaborative grouping, Turn and Talk - according to Irene Fountas, “Talking is Thinking – and we need to get students to think!”