Birchwood School First and Second Grade Reading

Weekly Reading Schedule page 1

Reading Syllabus page 2
Literature Study 2014-15 page 3
Literature Study 2015-16 page 6

Weekly Reading Schedule

Monday phonics
Tuesday reading groups (picture books/chapter books)
Wednesday comprehension
Thursday reading groups (picture book/chapter books)
Friday literature (genre studies with stories, author information, extension
activities)
In addition to the above schedule, first grade will have three extra reading
classes per week and second grade will have two.

Reading Syllabus
First and Second Grade
Daily Reading
Goal: Students will develop a love of reading. Students will build reading stamina.
Process: Learn to select books on their reading level and read them.
Product: Students will complete book reports to show that they understand what they
read. Students will become lifelong readers that love books.
Phonics
Goal: Use of phonics to help students in their daily reading.
Process: Phonics workbooks will be used to guide weekly lessons that systematically
introduce phonics rules. Students will practice using these rules in class and as
homework.
Product: Completion of pages in workbook.
Playing of phonics games.
Reading of phonics-based books.
Percentage grade on phonics tests.
Comprehension
Goal: To learn to read for a purpose. To learn specific comprehension skills such as
finding the main idea, putting events in sequence, and identifying cause and effect.
Process: Complete units in the comprehension workbooks that teach specific skills.
Complete book reports to practice identifying specific concepts in independent reading
material.
Product: Completed book reports and percentage grade on comprehension tests.

Literature Study
First and Second Grade
2014 - 2015
First Quarter
American Tall Tales
Goal: To introduce the students to traditional American tall tales.
Process: Read aloud and independently many tall tales with introduction, including
background facts, by teacher.
Identify characteristics of tall tales.
Product: Students will place character cut-outs and pictures from travel magazines on a
large wall map of the United States to make a display showing where the tall tales take
place.
Students will participate in a variety of literature extension activities which will reflect
their understanding of the stories and the unit.
Students will write their own tall tale.
Second Quarter
Animal Fiction
Goal: To introduce the students to classic animal fiction stories.
Process: Read aloud and independently many animal fiction classics with introduction,
including background facts, by teacher.
Identify anthropomorphic elements in each story.
Product: Students will participate in a variety of literature extension activities which
will reflect their understanding of the stories and the unit.
Students will write their own animal fiction story.
Special Event: Begin preparation for the poetry portion of the annual Poetry Show.
Children will learn about poetry and famous poets. They will memorize poems by great
poets and learn to perform them in a choral speaking format.

Literature Study
First and Second Grade
2014 - 2015
Third Quarter
Dick King-Smith Author Study
Goal: To introduce students to books written by author Dick King-Smith. This will be
an author study with an emphasis on how Dick King-Smith got his story ideas. Students
will also learn animal facts which correspond to specific Dick King-Smith books.
Process: Read aloud many Dick King-Smith books, both picture and chapter, with
introduction including background facts, by teacher.
Identify fictional elements in each fictional story.
Learn animal facts which correspond to specific Dick King-Smith books.
Product: Students will participate in a variety of literature extension activities which
will reflect their understanding of the stories and the unit.
Students will write their own true animal story.
Junior Great Books
Goal: To expose students to rich works of literature.
To have meaningful discussions about literature.
Process: Listen to stories read aloud in class.
Hear story read aloud at home and answer at home questions.
Complete art and other activities related to the reading.
Participate in class discussions about the readings.
Product: Students will enjoy various works of literature.
Students will feel comfortable sharing their thoughts about literature with classmates.
Students will be able to back up their answers with examples from the text.
Special Event: Continue preparation for the annual Poetry Show. Children will learn
about poetry and famous poets. They will memorize poems by great poets and learn to
perform them in a choral speaking format.

Literature Study
First and Second Grade
2014 - 2015
Fourth Quarter
Junior Great Books
Goal: To expose students to rich works of literature.
To have meaningful discussions about literature.
Process: Listen to stories read aloud in class.
Hear story read aloud at home and answer at home questions.
Complete art and other activities related to the reading.
Participate in class discussions about the readings.
Product: Students will enjoy various works of literature.
Students will feel comfortable sharing their thoughts about literature with classmates.
Students will be able to back up their answers with examples from the text.
Biographies
Goal: To introduce the students to biographical stories.
Process: Read aloud and independently many biographies with introduction, including
background facts, by teacher.
Identify facts in each story.
Product: Students will participate in a variety of literature extension activities which
will reflect their understanding of the stories and the unit.
Students will write an autobiographical story.

Literature Study
First and Second Grade
2015 - 2016
First Quarter
Fairy Tales
Goal: To introduce the students to traditional and modern fairy tales from around the
world.
Process: Read aloud and independently many fairy tales.
Identify components of a fairy tale.
Compare and contrast traditional and modern fairy tales.
Distinguish fantasy and reality.
Product: Students will participate in a variety of activities which will reflect their
understanding of the unit.
Students will write their own fairy tale.
Second Quarter
Mysteries
Goal: To introduce the students to mystery books.
Process: .Read aloud and independently many mysteries.
Define terms that mystery writers use.
Identify components of a mystery.
Product: Students will participate in a variety of activities which will reflect their
understanding of the unit.
Special Event: Begin preparation for the annual Poetry Show. Children will learn about
poetry and famous poets. They will memorize poems by great poets and learn to perform
them in a choral speaking format.

Literature Study
First and Second Grade
2015 - 2016

Third Quarter
Caldecott Books
Goals: To introduce students to books awarded the Caldecott Medal and Caldecott
Honor for their illustrations.
Process: Learn about the history and guidelines for the Caldecott Medal and Caldecott
Honor.
Read and enjoy read aloud Caldecott books.
Product: Students will complete a variety of activities which will reflect their
understanding of the unit.
Junior Great Books
Goal: To expose students to rich works of literature.
To have meaningful discussions about literature.
Process: Listen to stories read aloud in class.
Hear story read aloud at home and answer at home questions.
Complete art and other activities related to the reading.
Participate in class discussions about the readings.
Product: Students will enjoy various works of literature.
Students will feel comfortable sharing their thoughts about literature with classmates.
Students will be able to back up their answers with examples from the text.
Special Event: Continue preparation for the annual Poetry Show. Children will learn
about poetry and famous poets. They will memorize poems by great poets and learn to
perform them in a choral speaking format.

Literature Study
First and Second Grade
2015 - 2016
Fourth Quarter
Theme: Historical Fiction
Goals: To introduce the students to a time and place other than their own.
Process: Read and enjoy read aloud historical fiction books.
Identify facts and fiction in each book.
Compare and contrast the setting and events in the books with those in the students lives.
Product: Students compare their life with characters from the books using Venn
diagrams.
Students will complete a variety of activities which will reflect their understanding of the
unit.
Junior Great Books
Goal: To expose students to rich works of literature.
To have meaningful discussions about literature.
Process: Listen to stories read aloud in class.
Hear story read aloud at home and answer at home questions.
Complete art and other activities related to the reading.
Participate in class discussions about the readings.
Product: Students will enjoy various works of literature.
Students will feel comfortable sharing their thoughts about literature with classmates.
Students will be able to back up their answers with examples from the text.