OVERVIEW 

The Reading Rope is a simple way to understand how a child learns to read. It's a foundational concept within the science of reading, created by literacy expert Dr. Hollis Scarborough, and serves as a helpful image for parents and teachers. Think of it as a real rope made of many smaller strands that are all woven together. Reading isn't just one skill; it's a combination of many.

The rope has two main parts:

• Word Recognition: This is about figuring out the words on a page. It includes skills like sounding out words and recognizing them instantly.

• Language Comprehension: This is about understanding what those words mean. It includes skills like having a good vocabulary and understanding the topic you're reading about.

When all the strands of the Reading Rope are strong and woven together, a child can become a skilled, fluent reader. This is the core principle of our literacy program at Woburn Public Schools. Our comprehensive Literacy Block, used at every grade level, is designed with multiple programs to address each and every one of these vital components.

In first grade, students build on kindergarten skills to become more independent readers and writers. The focus shifts from learning to read to reading to learn.

Reading

Students work with two main types of texts:

• Narrative (Stories): They learn to understand stories by focusing on key parts like characters, setting, and plot. They also practice retelling stories and comparing them.

• Expository (Informational): This is a new focus where they learn to read nonfiction to find facts. They identify the main topic and key details and use features like pictures to help them understand the text.

Writing

Students develop their writing skills in three different areas:

• Narrative: Writing their own stories with a beginning, middle, and end.

• Informational: Writing about a topic and including facts.

• Opinion: Stating their thoughts on a topic and giving reasons to support them.

Throughout the year, students also work on building their vocabulary, using correct grammar, and becoming more confident communicators.

Suggested Books to Read at Home

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

The Little Red Hen (a classic folktale)

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

• Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

• Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

• The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

• Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• What I Do on a Winter Day by a first grader (You can find many examples of student writing online or at your local library for inspiration!)

• My First Day of School by an author/illustrator team (This is a great topic for first graders to write their own narrative about.)

• My Visit to the Park by an author/illustrator team (Another excellent topic for personal narratives.)

• When I Was a Baby... by an author/illustrator team (A fun way to practice sequencing events.)

• A Trip to the Zoo by an author/illustrator team (A great way to practice adding descriptive details.)

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

• No, David! by David Shannon

• Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

• We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• National Geographic Kids: Sharks! by Anne Schreiber

• I Am a Cat by Galia Bernstein

• Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

• A Book about Whales by an author/illustrator team (A good example of a book written to inform.)

• How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan (A fun book that is written to give instructions.)

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• National Geographic Kids: Sharks! by Anne Schreiber

• What if You Had Animal Teeth? by Sandra Markle

• Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies

• My, Oh My--a Butterfly! by Gail Gibbons

• A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• A Book About My Dog by a first grader (A great example of a book written to inform about a pet.)

• All About Bugs by an author/illustrator team (A perfect topic for students to research and write about.)

• How a Plant Grows by an author/illustrator team (A good example of a how-to book.)

• My Favorite Animals by an author/illustrator team (A great way to write about facts on a specific topic.)

• The Life Cycle of a Butterfly by an author/illustrator team (A good example of a book written to explain a scientific concept.)

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

• Red Is Best by Kathy Stinson

• I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff

• Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

• Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• National Geographic Kids: Sharks! by Anne Schreiber

• Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies

• A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston

• How a Plant Grows by Bobbie Kalman

• What If You Had Animal Hair!? by Sandra Markle