1. Belle Vernon Area School District Textbook Adoption

2. Curriculum Team’s Vision for the Future of the Course: The goal of the K-12 Reading program is to have an all-encompassing and cohesive program that builds upon phonics, fluency, phonemic awareness, vocabulary and comprehension while creating life-long independent, appreciative readers who read for information, enjoyment and critical analysis.

3. Individual’s Professional Vision for the Future of the Course: Primary: The goal of the K-2 Reading Plan is to have an all-encompassing, cohesive program that builds up on phonics, fluency and comprehension while meeting individual needs and providing evidence of effectiveness. Intermediate: We want to create lifelong, independent readers who excel within all genres. Secondary: Students will be able to read fiction and nonfiction for information, enjoyment, and critical analysis.

4. What does research indicate the best direction of the course. Drop everything and read Rotation-small group Students read to … Model reading/writing Shared reading/writing Guided reading/writing Independent reading/writing Oral Reading Summer reading Infusion of poetry

5. Committee’s Vision The committee’s discussion centered on the language arts course be integrated instead of taught separately. Also, an emphasis on writing needs to occur starting in kindergarten and carried through the curriculum.

6. Sample text meet and/or exceed our expectations regards to PSSA / PA Common Core standards. Each of the sample texts were common core. However, the Pearson appeared to meet the needs of the district and fit with the research that was discussed.

7. Have we compared, contrasted and analyzed numerous resources? Reading Street-Pearson Pros Phonics-concentrates on the phonics for the week Grammar Decodable books (not as visually appealing as Journeys but good) Opportunities for writing Vocabulary- Amazing words with questions Workbook set-up Elaboration of Reading Skills Spelling-more challenging and rule oriented Workbooks are all together

8. Have we compared, contrasted and analyzed numerous resources? K-reviews high frequency words Writing component stronger than Journeys Writing strategies strong for 2 nd and 3 rd grade Would fit with a Language Arts component Can purchase AR tests Differentiated assessments Tests- 3 choices for each section Pre and Post Assessments Sleuth Magazine Reading Theatre Literacy Center

10. Have we compared, contrasted and analyzed numerous resources? Questions Need to review all Unit 6s because may not get to them Handwriting in Kindergarten is different than current system Is the Intervention system included? IPad Apps?

11. Have we compared, contrasted and analyzed numerous resources? Journeys-Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Pros Visual appeal Assessments K-2 Stories Cold reads Familiar to series now Card- questions History, Science, non-fiction integrated into series Literacy Centers Phonics- K-3 Selected readers Only one student consumable Intervention included Grab-n-Go folder

12. Have we compared, contrasted and analyzed numerous resources? Focus wall with essential questions Core subjects covered by Unit 5 Kindergarten Rhyme book Differentiated RTI activities Decodable books Trade books Strong vocabulary component Open-ended at end of the cold read for 3 rd grade

14. Have we compared, contrasted and analyzed numerous resources? Questions Apps for IPads Computer writing program Extra Level Readers for larger class sizes

15. Have we compared, contrasted and analyzed numerous resources? Reading Wonders-McGraw Hill Pros Visually appealing Differentiated activities Vocabulary cards Leveled readers More rigorous than other systems Familiar manual Digital component (but not explored fully) Workbook

17. Have we compared, contrasted and analyzed numerous resources? Questions Are any other school districts piloting this program in other states?

18. Major Activities to be completed: Team consensus Pearson-Reading Street