Reading Units of Study Strategies

What's On This Page?

Below are some anchor charts from Reading units from our Reading Units of Study Curriculum. Each grade will complete four to six units this year, some of which are focused around a single genre of reading (i.e. fiction, nonfiction.) The charts here are for the units each grade level has completed or has in progress. More units will be added as we move through the year. You can click the link for each chart listed and a PDF will open; the first page shows what the entire chart would look like in class.

What Are Anchor Charts?

These anchor charts show the strategies students have learned in Reading workshop. Teachers create them in the classroom with students during lessons. Usually in Reading, when a strategy is introduced, it is added to the chart. There are typically 1-2 strategies added each day. The charts are used in teaching and serve as a reminder to students of what to practice while reading. While students go to read independently during reading workshop, students can refer to the strategies on the charts. Sometimes teachers also give students small copies of the charts to keep with them while they read.

How Can These Be Helpful to Families?

Families can use the strategies or the charts themselves to remind students of the strategies they can use while reading at home. In some cases it could be helpful to have a copy of the chart next to the child while reading- like they would have in the classroom. For example, kindergarten students learned to use "picture power" (almost like a super-power!) as a strategy to check the picture for clues of what words may be on the page. Families can prompt the student to try the picture power strategy if a student needs a strategy to figure out a word.

In other cases, it could be helpful for family members to talk with the child and ask questions related to the strategies after they've read a book or a chapter. For example, in 4th grade a strategy to grow ideas about a character is to pay attention to his/her desires and how they're reached. Families can ask about the main character- what he or she is like and what he or she wants to happen in the story.

Since these strategies have been introduced in the lessons, students will likely remember them at home. In some cases, a strategy on these charts may not have been included in all classrooms or may not have been emphasized, and may not be familiar to children. Also, some strategies are not expected to be mastered and are an option to use when needed by a child. It is not expected that each child will use every strategy while reading. If you have a question about a strategy after asking your child, we encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher.