StorytownStorytownHarcourt School PublishersHarcourt School Publishers

Our New Literacy ProgramOur New Literacy Program

Storytown is our Storytown is our DistrictDistrict reading and reading and language arts program for grades K-4.language arts program for grades K-4.

This program has explicit, systematic This program has explicit, systematic instruction in reading, phonics, spelling, instruction in reading, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and writing. vocabulary, grammar and writing.

Assessments are included to track student Assessments are included to track student progress and drive instruction.progress and drive instruction.

Writing

Focuses on traits of good writing

• Organization• Ideas• Sentence Fluency• Word Choice• Voice• Conventions

Develops writing forms

• Sentences• Descriptions• Responses• Personal Narratives

Shared, Modeled and Independent writing

tasks

ReadingReading

Whole group Whole group InstructionInstruction

Student hard cover Student hard cover bookbook

Fluency through Fluency through repeated readings and repeated readings and reader’s theaterreader’s theater

Focus skills and Focus skills and strategies build strategies build Comprehension Comprehension

Small group InstructionSmall group Instruction Leveled readers Leveled readers

(paperback)(paperback)1.1. On-levelOn-level2.2. Below-levelBelow-level3.3. Advanced-level Advanced-level Flexible groupsFlexible groups Target skills/difficultiesTarget skills/difficulties Targets High Targets High

Frequency wordsFrequency words

Primary MAC Students will be Primary MAC Students will be divided by grade level for divided by grade level for

Whole group reading Whole group reading instruction.instruction.Grade 1 Students Grade 1 Students

First graders will work First graders will work with Ms. Haskell in with Ms. Haskell in Room 28. Room 28.

Students will work on Students will work on Grade 1 lessons in Grade 1 lessons in reading, vocabulary, reading, vocabulary, phonics, grammar, phonics, grammar, writing and spelling.writing and spelling.

Homework will be Homework will be assigned by Ms. assigned by Ms. Haskell.Haskell.

Grade 2 Students Grade 2 Students Second graders will work Second graders will work

with Miss Smith in with Miss Smith in Room 30.Room 30.

Students will work on Students will work on Grade 2 lessons in Grade 2 lessons in reading, vocabulary, reading, vocabulary, phonics, grammar, phonics, grammar, writing and spelling. writing and spelling.

Homework will be Homework will be assigned by Miss assigned by Miss Smith.Smith.

Small group Instruction will be Small group Instruction will be ability based and flexible.ability based and flexible.

Students may work in small groups with Miss Students may work in small groups with Miss Smith or Ms. Haskell.Smith or Ms. Haskell.

Groups may change at any time.Groups may change at any time. Students reading above grade level will be Students reading above grade level will be

challenged. Students reading below grade level challenged. Students reading below grade level will receive additional instruction and help. will receive additional instruction and help.

Small paperback books will be sent home for Small paperback books will be sent home for rereading and sharing with the family. Please rereading and sharing with the family. Please return them the next school day!return them the next school day!

Reading at home to a family member is expected Reading at home to a family member is expected nightly as support for this program. nightly as support for this program.

Literacy Centers

While the teacher is providing direct instruction to small groups, the children

will work in literacy center activities.

Letters & Sounds(Build word puzzles with Common letter patterns

Such as long /u/ silent /e/)

Listening & Speaking

(Listen to a story and retell it with pictures or

words)

Reading

(Read a story and record information in a

chart)

Writing

(Make a K-W-L chart for a research report on

Lions)

Word work

(Sort words you know by how many letters they have)

Phonics and Spelling ConnectionsPhonics and Spelling Connections

Connecting letters to soundsConnecting letters to sounds Word blendingWord blending Word buildingWord building Spelling lists with nightly homework in Spelling lists with nightly homework in

either Phonics or Spelling (practice either Phonics or Spelling (practice books/pages)books/pages)

High frequency sight wordsHigh frequency sight words Spelling testsSpelling tests

Vocabulary• “Robust” vocabulary builds your child’s

listening and speaking vocabulary• Student friendly explanations • Practice and varied experience with new

words.• Students are not expected to spell the

words.

deserve usually peaceful

GrammarGrammar

• Grammar practice bookGrammar practice book

• Daily proofreading tasksDaily proofreading tasks

• Concepts such as nouns, verbs, Concepts such as nouns, verbs, adjectives are introduced, practiced adjectives are introduced, practiced and applied in real writing. and applied in real writing.

StorytownStorytown

We appreciate your support in the We appreciate your support in the transition to our new Literacy program.transition to our new Literacy program.

Storytown is research based and prioritizes Storytown is research based and prioritizes skills and strategies at each grade level skills and strategies at each grade level according to this confirmed research.according to this confirmed research.

Additional help for struggling students will Additional help for struggling students will be available from your child’s teacher and be available from your child’s teacher and the basic skills support teachers, as in the the basic skills support teachers, as in the past.past.

Please feel free to provide feedback to us Please feel free to provide feedback to us at anytime during the school year at anytime during the school year regarding the Storytown program. regarding the Storytown program.