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Core Content and Skills
English Language Arts 2
2007-2008
BOE Approved

Launching Writing Workshop  Content   Skills  Routines and Expectations of Writing Workshop We Are All Writers   Choosing topics that are important to you Carrying on as independent writers Learning the system for using the writing supplies Planning for long-term projects  Stretching Words Spelling the best you can...and moving on Widening writing possibilities: Lists and letters Widening writing possibilities: Real-world purposes Fixing and fancying up Editing     Readers Build Good Reading Habits  Content   Skills  Management Routines Expectations   Choosing "just right" books Reflecting upon reading memories Learning a system of borrowing books and bringing them back Maintaining partnerships and becoming good listeners Carrying on independently and not interrupting reading conferences Learning the system for shopping for books and returning them during independent reading time Rereading familiar texts to notice something new Making connections while reading Discussing books in small groups and partnerships Keeping track of books read Reading widely from a variety of genres Looking at the cover of books to get your mind ready Creating reading goals (examining strengths and weaknesses as a reader) Using the classroom library Sustaining independent reading Building stamina Developing partnerships Identifying the characteristics of genre (non-fiction, fiction, information, biographical, poetry)     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 1 &2   Using spelling patterns Fix It, Stretch It, Finish It, Sort It, Find It Short vowel sounds Homophones - there/their/they're, which/witch, dew/do/due Unit 1 & 2 high frequency words

Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words  Content   Skills  Comprehension Strategies Decoding skills   Getting minds ready to read (reading title, cover, book walk) Using print strategies Using picture cues Adjusting reading with appropriate intonation Using all the tools in our reading tool box Figuring out words by moving through/ "crashing through" the whole word Thinking about and asking yourself does it look right, sound right, make sense? Asking themselves questions as they read Asking for help (when, what, how) Reading with fluency, phrasing and expression Chunking the text to make it sound smooth Using punctuation to cue how the text sounds Using a storyteller's voice when reading aloud Using context clues Reading through the whole word     Small Moment:Personal Narrative Writing  Content   Skills  Personal Narrative Writing   Understanding a small moment Discovering one small moment Establishing long-term partnerships Stretching one small moment Stretching and writing words Planning details Storytelling with your partner Focusing on one small moment (watermelon) Focusing on the most important part Revealing internal stories Close-in story endings Revising and editing with partners Revision Use words to show, not tell Adding dialogue Writing leads and endings Sketching rather than drawing     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 3, 4, 5   Using spelling patterns Fix it, Stretch it, Finish it, Sort it, Find it ow/ou sound Digraphs ch, th, wh, sh Silent letters

Fiction Character Study  Content   Skills  Story Elements Character Traits   Making inferences about characters' traits, motivations, messages Comparing/contrasting characters Using graphic organizers and post-its to hold ideas and to prepare for conversations Using evidence from text to support character traits Retelling across your fingers Tracing characters through texts Character traits vs. emotions Using evidence to clarify, confirm or revise retelling Using a variety of print strategies to figure out difficult words Retelling: -balancing details -using sequence words -with expression -using evidence to clarify,confirm or revise, -with a partner  Indentifying characteristics of fiction (setting, main characters, problem, solution, important events) Identifying characters by physical traits, personality, and emotions Noticing that characters often change over time Identifying main vs. secondary characters     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 6, 7, & 8   Using spelling patterns Homophones Vowel-r Fix It, Stretch It, Find It, Finish It, Sort It Suffixes     Writing for Readers  Content   Skills  Skills & Strategies for Readable Writing   Rereading own writing Revising confusing parts Using appropriate punctuation and capitalization Writing neatly and clearly using appropriate spacing Stretching words by matching letters to sounds Editing with partners Using spelling and high frequency words correctly Adding missing words

Building Comprehension  Content   Skills  Comprehension Strategies Fluent Reading   Using a variety of print and comprehension strategies Reading with feeling and expression Accumulating the text across chapters Synthesizing the text for deeper understanding Integrating story elements for an understanding of text Using phonics and context clues to determine pronunciation and meaning  Making connections (text-to-text, text- to- self, text-to-world) Inferencing Thinking aloud     Revision for Writers  Content   Skills  Revision strategies Beginnings and Endings   Creating Catchy Beginnings Creating wrap-up endings Subtracting unimportant details that don't build your topic Adding to drawings Adding missing details Using descriptive language to show rather than tell Revising with partners Planning for revision Adding to sketches   Revising leads Revising endings Learning revision from authors     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 9 & 10   Using spelling patterns Visual Skills- Proofreading Fix It, Stretch It, Find It, Finish It, Sort It Suffixes

Nonfiction Writing:Procedures & Reports  Content   Skills  Researching a Topic   Taking notes  Determining what is important Making a plan for their research Writing "all-about books" Applying text features (table of contents, index, pictures, photographs, illustrations, diagrams, maps, cutaways, captions, glossary, text box, section heading, different kinds of print: bold, italics, underlined and large) Revising: learning from each other's writing Fitting information into writing Becoming a resourceful word solver by editing     Readers As Researchers  Content   Skills  Nonfiction Reading Strategies Nonfiction Text Features (labels, maps, glossary, index, captions, diagrams, table of contents, text boxes, pronunciation guide, photographs, headings cutaways, different kinds of print)   Identifying, locating and utilizing nonfiction text features Distinguishing fact and opinion Using post-its to find important facts Using prior knowledge in order to get their minds ready to build on what they know. Asking questions and seeking answers in nonfiction books Deciding what to read in order to obtain desired information Using context clues in order to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words Choosing "just right" nonfiction books Using graphic organizers Deciding how to read a particular text (cover-to-cover vs. not cover-to-cover) Scanning for information Asking/writing questions for a wondering wall Using reference materials (dictionary, atlas, thesaurus) Decoding multi-syllabic words     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 11,12, & 13   Learning High frequency words Using spelling patterns Fix it, Stretch it, Find it, Sort it, Add it Long a sound Homophones Suffixes Silent letters

Reading Collaboration Through Partnerships  Content   Skills  Collaborations   Being a good listener in partnerships Staying on task Asking appropriate questions Choosing big ideas to discuss Taking care of each other's feelings while conversing Having back and forth conversations Using post-its to hold ideas and to prepare for talk Using text evidence to support thinking     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 14 & 15   Using & spelling High Frequency Words correctly Using spelling patterns /k/ and  /ck/ sounds /ch/ and  /tch/ sounds Fix It, Stretch It, Find It, Finish It, Sort It Homophones     Writing About Reading  Content   Skills  Responding to Text By Sharing Thinking and Writing   Identifying the big idea Using reading strategies (connections, predictions, questions, options, etc.) Using evidence to support ideas Write to prepare for conversations Using post-its to collect thoughts while reading Selecting a post-it note to write off of (prompt) Prompt writing

Authors as Mentors  Content   Skills  Crafting Writing from Mentor Writers   Planning writing (how authors work) Using research details Emulating authors' strategies (dialogue, speech bubbles, quotations, repeating language, adding details, types of print, varied transitional language) in authentic ways Editing for Publication     Readers Become Experts about Series They Love  Content   Skills  Stamina Comprehension Strategies: Visualizing, Predicting, Inferring, Questioning (Modeled through Think-Aloud strategies) Book Talks/Conversations Genre Study of Mysteries   Visualizing Reading for a sustained amount of time independently Using post-its to record ideas and thoughts Using evidence to support answers Predicting based on prior knowledge Comparing and contrasting characters in books Inferring Questioning Confirming or revising predictions Small group collaboration Identifying characteristics of mysteries (clues, evidence, detectives, problem, resolution, suspect)     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 16 , 17, 18, 19   Using spelling patterns Fix It, Stretch It, Find It, Finish It, Sort It Compound words Word Patterns Homophones

Poetry: Powerful Thoughts in Tiny Packages  Content   Skills  Strategies that turn writers into poets   Seeing with poets' eyes Listening for line breaks Hearing the music in poetry Finding ingredients for a poem Showing, not telling Hearing the voices of poetry Searching for honest precise words Contrasting ordinary and poetic language Stretching out a comparison (metaphor) Revising and editing poetry     Reading Nonfiction Within A Discipline  Content   Skills  Researching a Topic   Rereading for a specific purpose Using a variety of resources Making a plan for your research Distinguishing between fact and opinion Using a variety of graphic organizers Summarizing Information Organizing and presenting information about a topic to others Taking notes     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 20, 21, 22   Using spelling patterns Fix it, Stretch it, Find it, Sort it, Add it Digraphs ch, th, wh, sh Contractions Homophones

Writing Fairy Tales  Content   Skills  Fairy Tale Writing   Using figurative and descriptive language Planning     Reading Fairy Tales  Content   Skills  Characteristics of Fairy Tales   Identify Characteristics: (Royalty, Good/Evil, 3 tries, "Long Ago" beginnings, Magic, Animal Characters, Happy Endings, Problem/Solution) Compare and contrast characters and versions (Venn diagrams) Point of view Reading with fluency and expression Character traits Story elements Retelling with a dramatic voice     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 23, 24, 25   Using spelling patterns Fix it, Stretch it, Find it, Sort it, Add it Contractions, possessive nouns Learning High frequency words

Planning A Reading Life  Content   Skills  Reflection on Their Reading Year Plans for Their Continued Growth As Readers   Using evidence to analyze their growth as readers (i.e. reading log, book selections, notes) Examining strengths and weaknesses as a reader Setting goals for summer reading     Reflecting and Planning in Writing  Content   Skills  Reflecting on Their Writing Year Plans For Their Continued Growth As Writers   Strengths and successes What still needs work Setting Goals     Spelling  Content   Skills  Spelling Units 26 & 27