Teaching to Standards: English Language Arts

A systematic, year-long language arts curriculum for middle and high school students

Research has shown Teaching to Standards: English Language Arts to be highly effective in teaching skills that align to Common Core State Standards for English language arts. The curriculum supports students of varying abilities by providing materials at three literacy levels: objects/photos, concrete symbols, abstract symbols/text. The skills taught focus on grade-level standards like persuasive writing, story grammar elements, and research endeavors. The authors created and/or adapted popular works of literature used in general education classes (like Holes, Number the Stars, and Dragonwings) using simplified text with symbol supports. Genres covered include fiction, nonfiction, plays, and poetry—16 forms of literature in all.

 

DETAILS

Teaching to Standards: English Language Arts is a research-based language arts curriculum for middle and high school students (ages 12-21) who have moderate-to-severe developmental disabilities including autism. The curriculum objectives align closely with Common Core State Standards for English language arts. (Click here to view the alignment document.)

The 32 progressive lessons are scripted, and incorporate evidence-based teaching procedures. They are organized into four theme-based units: Change, Values and Decision Making, Social Justice, and Global Awareness. These far-reaching themes help students grasp the Big Ideas found in contemporary literature.

What You Get:

Teaching to Standards: English Language Arts Introductory Kit includes:

Right On Readers – provides 16 popular works of literature commonly used in the general education classroom, adapted with simplified text, repeated storylines, and symbol supports. The adapted literature includes fiction and nonfiction stories, poetry, theatrical scripts, and research endeavors. Spiralbound books, 140 pages and 180 pages, 2013.

Daily Writing Journal – features comprehension and opinion exercises linked to lessons. Students can write or use illustrations to compose entries. Spiralbound, 144 pages, 2013.

Student Response Book – provides teacher scripts and two response modes: symbols with text and text alone. Spiralbound, 172 pages, 2013.

Implementation Guide – details the evidence-based teaching practices embedded in the curriculum, relevant research findings, and a comprehensive scope and sequence. Spiralbound, 100 pages, 2013.

2 Teacher's Guides – focus on lesson plans with color-coded teacher scripts and appropriate student adaptations. Spiralbound books, 256 pages and 318 pages, 2013.

Assessment Response Book – provides documentation for student attainment of learning objectives. Spiralbound, 76 pages, 2013.

Graphic Organizers – offers three ready-made activity boards: KWHL Chart, T-Chart, and a Story Map.

Script Cards – 13 cards used to teach concepts repeated throughout the curriculum. Cards are two-sided so students can view definitions during teaching.

Card Set – 350 cards representing vocabulary and elements of story grammar are provided for each unit. They are color-coded by unit, but can also be organized by story grammar element, or by literacy level.

Electronic Files – a DVD includes all the reproducible material in the curriculum plus a Classroom License for printouts. All illustrations used in the student materials are provided in an image library, allowing you to use images for AAC devices, to create additional materials for students who eye gaze as a response, or to provide response options for the Daily Writing Journal.

Teaching to Standards: English Language Arts Classroom Kit includes:

4 Right On Readers

8 Daily Writing Journals

1 each of the following books: Holes, We Beat the Street, The Outsiders, Number the Stars, and Dragonwings

Plus all other materials in the Introductory Kit

Extra Daily Writing Journals and Right On Readers are available separately.

Lesson Features:

  • Appropriate for ages 12–21
  • Accommodates multiple levels and response modes
  • Aligned to Common Core State Standards
  • Provides scripted lessons
  • Embeds evidence-based teaching procedures
  • Includes multiple types of adapted literature
  • Describes multiple ways to accommodate for various student needs

Skills Taught:

  • Develop vocabulary.
  • Make a connection with the text.
  • Generate opinions and support opinion with facts.
  • Sequence 3 events.
  • Write persuasively.
  • Write a poem and an ending to a play.
  • Research a topic and write facts about the topic.
  • Identify mood, emotion, and writer purpose and intent.
  • Identify story grammar elements: main character, setting, problem, and solution.
  • Identify figures of speech: simile, metaphor, and onomatopoeia.
  • Improve listening comprehension for literal recall, inference, analysis and main idea.

By Pamela J. Mims, PhD, Angel Lee, PhD, Tracie-Lynn Zakas, PhD, and Diane M. Browder, PhD.