Unit 1  Launching Reader’s Workshop 

The Launching Unit of Study provides models for many reading behaviors, rituals and routines. Active listening, thinking, engagement, and participation are fundamental expectations for reading workshop. Establishing a community that fosters these behaviors is vital and will help your students develop and grow. Through the targeted lessons in this unit, your students’ focused thinking and accountable talk will begin to evolve and develop. As students gain more experience, they begin to participate in meaningful conversations connected to the books they are sharing.

Unit 2 Fiction

The Fiction Unity of Study encompasses many different types of stories: fantastical, magical, traditional, historical, mythological or realistic. By reading and studying different types of fiction, students will develop an understanding of various forms, features and purposes of fiction. Their reading of fiction text will be enhanced by an understanding of the narrative structure, story elements, and themes associated with each particular type of fiction writing. Students will also learn and apply specific reading skills and strategies that will enable them to visualize magical lands, infer characters’ feelings and traits, identify the author’s message and actively engage with the texts they read.

Unit 3 Nonfiction 

The Nonfiction Unit of Study encompasses three different types of of nonfiction texts (reference, literary nonfiction, and biography) in order to provide students the opportunity to discover the difference of reading nonfiction texts compared to fiction. Students will begin to identify text features and how they aid in the students understand and analyze new information and topics. Students will practice noticing key details, identifying author’s structure and purpose, making connections, and asking questions. Students will learn how nonfiction text structures help readers find answers to questions and compare, contrast, and summarize key details. Students will also learn that reading strategies will aid in determining the meaning of unfamiliar words, gaining a deeper understanding of the topics, and recognizing sequential order.

Unit 4 Science Content Literacy: Life Cycles of Animals 

The Life Cycles of Animals Unit encompasses the skills and strategies necessary to acquire content knowledge through the exploration of complex science texts. This unit focuses on providing students with strategies for reading and comprehending texts related to the life cycles of animals.Teachers will demonstrate how readers develop conceptual understandings through closely examining and making connections among science terms, as well as interpreting visual models and representations. Students will not only learn to observe their world through the lens of a scientist - questioning, activating schema, searching for information, and summarizing their findings.

Unit 5 Science Content Literacy: Energy on the Move Light and Sound 

This science content literacy unit of study focuses on providing students with strategies for meeting the challenges of reading and comprehending complex science texts. Throughout this unit, teachers will demonstrate how readers develop conceptual understandings through closely examining and making connections among key science terms, as well as interpreting visual models and representations. Students will not only learn strategies for making content comprehensible, but they will also learn to observe their world through the lens of scientist.