Kindergarten - Gateway 3
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Usability
Gateway 3 - Meets Expectations | 97% |
|---|---|
Criterion 3.1: Use & Design | 7 / 8 |
Criterion 3.2: Teacher Planning | 8 / 8 |
Criterion 3.3: Assessment | 8 / 8 |
Criterion 3.4: Differentiation | 10 / 10 |
Criterion 3.5: Technology Use |
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectations for instructional supports and usability indicators. The materials are well designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing. The materials support teacher learning and understanding of the Standards, as well as offer teachers resources and tools to collect ongoing data about student progress on the Standards. Teachers are provided with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so that they demonstrate independent ability with grade-level standards. The materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning, and digital materials are accessible and available in multiple platforms.
Criterion 3.1: Use & Design
Materials are well designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the criterion for materials are well designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing; however, the teacher and student may not reasonably complete the content within a regular school year, as there are no flex days built into the program. Student resources include ample review and practice resources, clear directions, and explanation, and correct labeling of reference aids. The materials include publisher-produced alignment documentation of the standards addressed by specific questions, tasks, and assessment items. The visual design is not distracting or chaotic but supports students in engaging thoughtfully with the subject.
Indicator 3a
Materials are well-designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials are well-designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing.
The Kindergarten curriculum is divided into nine modules, with each module taking place over four weeks. The Guiding Principles and Strategies Resource and the Teacher's Guide provide extensive information about all components of the module and specific details for each lesson component, which integrate all ELA strands. Suggested time frames and ranges for each component of a lesson are provided. The curriculum has multiple lesson parts that are required daily, though provided time frames will help schools find time for each part of the lesson. Time is built into the schedule each day for whole-class instruction, small-group instruction, independent practice, collaborative group work, and reflection.
The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook provides information to support effective lesson structure and pacing. Two anchor texts are introduced each week. Each day’s lesson includes whole-class instruction and small-group work. The suggested times include:
- Whole-Class Instruction should be 90 to 135 minutes per day for reading, writing, language, and foundational skills. The program suggests 15 to 30 minutes a day of reading and vocabulary, 40 to 50 minutes a day of foundational skills, and 30 to 45 minutes of writing workshop.
- Small-Group instruction should be 45 to 60 minutes per day.
- Wrap Up and Share each day should take between 5 to 10 minutes.
Indicator 3b
The teacher and student can reasonably complete the content within a regular school year, and the pacing allows for maximum student understanding.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten partially meet the expectation that the teacher and student can reasonably complete the content within a regular school year, and the pacing allows for maximum student understanding.
The Kindergarten curriculum is arranged into nine modules, with each module covering four weeks. This equates to 180 days of instruction. This does not allow for flexibility within a typical school year including disruptions due to state testing, holidays, snow days, field trips, and other school and district commitments. This also does not allocate time for Intervention Screening Assessments, Module Inventories, or Benchmark Assessments. There is also no time allocated to do the Inquiry and Research Projects, which are part of each module and take place the entire module length. There are also no flex days built into the program. It also does not allow time for the teacher to introduce and practice routines and procedures, even though it is emphasized in the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook.
Indicator 3c
The student resources include ample review and practice resources, clear directions, and explanation, and correct labeling of reference aids (e.g., visuals, maps, etc.).
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meets the expectation that the student resources include ample review and practice resources, clear directions, and explanation, and correct labeling of reference aids (e.g., visuals, maps, etc.)
The Kindergarten student materials provide a variety of resources to practice and review skills. The resources provide clear directions and explanations for students and are all labeled to show alignment to the specific module and week. Printables, graphic organizers, and anchor charts are easily located on the digital site in accordance with the labeled heading in the Teacher's Guide as well. Activities that are completed with teacher guidance have directions included in the teacher guides. Resources that are completed independently or in small groups without direct teacher guidance, include clear directions and explanations so that the task can be completed.
The myBook is a write-in student book that provides clear directions and explanations. Each task box is labeled with clear and concise instructions along with a defined box for completing the task. These tasks correlate to the information the teacher provides in the lessons found in the Teacher's Guide. Some examples include:
- In Module 1, Lesson 7, the Teacher's Guide states, “Have children draw a picture representing the beginning of the plot in the ‘Beginning’ section in myBook, page 7."
- In Module 5, Lesson 1, the myBook states, “Characters are the people, animals, or creatures in a story. Picture and text clues tell how a character feels. Draw Jabari’s face. Show how he feels. Write words that tell how Jabari feels.”
- In Module 5, Lesson 18, the Teacher's Guide states, “Introduce the task to reread important parts of the story to identify the theme of Emmanuel's Dream. Read aloud pages 7 to 14. Have students turn and talk to notice all the things Emmanuel learns to do by himself. Then in the myBook, it states, “The topic is what a text is about in one or two words. The theme of a story is the message or lesson the author wants the reader to learn. Write the topic of Emmanuel’s Dream. Write the theme of Emmanuel's Dream. Draw a picture of Emmanuel at the end of his ride.”
Throughout the program, the materials include vocabulary cards, printables, Tabletop Minilesson flipcharts, anchor charts, display and engage Knowledge Maps, leveled readers, rubrics, Big Books, and little books. All materials are clearly labeled and correspond to the appropriate lesson. In each lesson, there is a small picture of the lesson text and a list of materials needed for each lesson.
Indicator 3d
Materials include publisher-produced alignment documentation of the standards addressed by specific questions, tasks, and assessment items.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meets the expectation that materials include publisher-produced alignment documentation of the standards addressed by specific questions, tasks, and assessment items.
There is a resource that shows an alignment to the Common Core State Standards by listing each standard and the lessons that correlate to the standards. Standard alignment is also located on the digital resource through the Planning Guide and Common Core State Standards link. Assessments are not labeled by CCSS, but the digital data reports have an option for the teacher to review the data based on the standard. In addition, on the digital platform, under Module Resources, there is a document titled “State-Specific Resources,” which provides the Weekly Overview for each module with state-aligned labeling of standards. Teachers need to use the correlation guide to find the standard. For example, in Module 3, Lesson 8, students hear Quinito’s Neighborhood by Ina Cumpiano and in their myBook, students are asked to “Draw a picture of each character. Write words that describe each charter.” The teacher must view the correlation document to find the correlated standard (RL.K.3). In addition, in the Take and Teach lesson for the Rigby Leveled Library, teachers can find the standards that correlates to the questions asked during the guided reading sessions.
Indicator 3e
The visual design (whether in print or digital) is not distracting or chaotic, but supports students in engaging thoughtfully with the subject.
Criterion 3.2: Teacher Planning
Materials support teacher learning and understanding of the Standards.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the criterion for materials support teacher learning and understanding of the Standards. The materials contain a Teacher's Edition with ample and useful annotations and suggestions on how to present the content in the Student Edition and in the ancillary materials. The Teacher’s Edition contains full, adult-level explanations and examples of the more advanced literacy concepts so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, as necessary, and it explains the role of the specific ELA/literacy standards in the context of the overall curriculum. The materials contain explanations of the instructional approaches of the program and identification of the research-based strategies. The materials also include strategies for informing all stakeholders, including students, parents, or caregivers about the ELA/literacy program, as well as suggestions for how they can help support student progress and achievement.
Indicator 3f
Materials contain a teacher's edition with ample and useful annotations and suggestions on how to present the content in the student edition and in the ancillary materials. Where applicable, materials include teacher guidance for the use of embedded technology to support and enhance student learning.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials contain a teacher’s edition with ample and useful annotations and suggestions on how to present the content in the student edition and in the ancillary materials. Where applicable, materials include teacher guidance for the use of embedded technology to support and enhance student learning.
The Kindergarten materials include a Teacher's Guide that provides a clear outline of each module, as well as notes and suggestions on how to present content to students. The Teacher's Guide also includes the objectives of the lesson, explanations of location of the descriptions of routines, suggested ways to present content, as well as possible questions to ask and detailed guidance for each part of the literacy block. The Teacher's Guide also includes scaffolded instruction to address learners’ needs with suggestions and ideas on how to differentiate instruction for those students in need. Within the Teacher’s Guide, there are also ideas for how to structure Reading Workshop, literacy centers, vocabulary centers, and digital stations. It also provides research-informed instructional routines to support lesson planning, including active viewing, active listening, vocabulary, reading for understanding, close reading, response writing, along with additional engagement routines including choral reading, partner reading, echo reading, turn and talk, think-pair-share, solo chair, and collaborative discussion.
The Teacher's Guide includes several sections that provide annotations and suggestions on how to present information to students. This includes:
- Module Opener: Provides an essential question, an explanation of the module focus, and a quick overview of the skills students will acquire and practice throughout the module
- Building Reading Independence: Provides suggestions on forming small groups in guided reading, English language development, setting reading goals, conferring, and skill strategy groups
- Building Knowledge Networks: Provides an image of the Knowledge Map students will use and how to display the Display and Engage for students throughout the module
- Developing Knowledge and Skills: Gives an overview of the knowledge and skills addressed throughout the module
- Inquiry and Research Project: Provides the learning objectives and weekly focus, provides teachers with detailed plans to guide students through completion of each project.
- Kicking off the Module: Provides guidance to teachers on how to set goals with students and make connections with families
- Week at a Glance: Provides teachers with a weekly overview that provides detailed information on the instruction for the week. Colors are assigned to each part as well as the use of icons and symbols.
- Literacy Centers: Provides teachers with information on the work that students will engage in, the materials needed, and ways the teacher is able to monitor student progress. In addition, information on the use of technology and digital stations is provided and the location of printables that accompany these stations.
- Daily Lesson Plan: Provides the teacher with detailed directions for the use of materials, guiding questions, learning objectives, collaborative strategies, learning mindset, English Learner Support, and Professional Learning.
The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook also discusses each part of the lesson plan and describes the materials for each section and the ways to use each resource. This section also describes the process of using the Weekly and Module Assessments and the process of incorporating the online digital tools and resources.
In addition, the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook includes Accessing Online Digital Tools and Resources, which explains, with labeled screenshots, the different features of the digital platform. It shows how to access modules, resources for teaching, and data and assessments. It also provides information on ways to work with students with disabilities or English Language Learners.
Indicator 3g
Materials contain a teacher's edition that contains full, adult-level explanations and examples of the more advanced literacy concepts so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, as necessary.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials contain a teacher’s edition that contains full, adult-level explanations and examples of the more advanced literacy concepts so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, as necessary.
The materials include a Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook that provides specific research, rationales, and explanations, that will help teachers build knowledge of the content. Teachers also have access to a digital professional learning module to support their understanding of each module. The Teacher's Guide also contains adult-level explanations and examples of the more advanced literary concepts.
The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook provides in-depth information about the overview of the design of the program, the research behind the design, and guidance for each part of the module in the areas of assessment, differentiation, family connections, classroom community, teaching, and learning. Within this book, the Teaching and Learning section provides explanations to assist the teacher in developing a full understanding of the content. Explanations are provided about Building Knowledge and Language, Foundational Skills, Oral Language, Vocabulary, Reading Worksop, and Writing Workshop. The information presented provides details about best practices to help teachers improve their knowledge of the subject. The Professional Learning Module allows teachers to navigate the learning modules at their own pace. Modules are designed to provide teachers with the learning outcomes, hands-on experience, reflection, and application before teaching the module to students. The Teacher's Guide contains a Preview Lesson Texts section that explains in detailed adult-level language the text complexity, key ideas, and language from the text or texts from the week.
Indicator 3h
Materials contain a teacher's edition that explains the role of the specific ELA/literacy standards in the context of the overall curriculum.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials contain a teacher’s edition that explains the role of the specific ELA/literacy standards in the context of the overall curriculum.
Teachers are provided a variety of materials that explain the role of specific ELA/Literacy standards. Supports can be found in the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook, Teacher's Guide, Assessments, and the Common Core State Standards resource.
At the beginning of each module in the Teacher's Guide, there is an overview page that lists all of the essential skills. Then, in the weekly overview section, the essential literary skills are listed for vocabulary, reading, communication, and writing for both whole group instruction and small-group instruction. Common Core State Standards are listed for each lesson in an additional document. Also, assessments are provided and teachers are able to create a standards-based report to assess and monitor student progress in regards to specific ELA/literacy standards. Lastly, in the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook, there is a section called, Teaching and Learning that has specific curriculum alignment to the Common Core State Standards.
Indicator 3i
Materials contain explanations of the instructional approaches of the program and identification of the research-based strategies.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials contain an explanation of the instructional approaches of the program and identification of the research- based strategies.
In the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook, there is a clear explanation of the instructional approaches and the research behind the program and strategies. The materials also contain a Research Foundations: Evidence Base book that specifically details the instructional approaches and research-based strategies of Into Reading. In this book, research is provided about the instructional model, technology and blended learning, differentiated and personalized learning, foundational reading skills, language and vocabulary development, fluency and comprehension, writing, speaking and listening, social-emotional learning, family and community engagement, and assessments. This book cites over 100 research references.
The program also includes Professional Learning Modules, which provides explanations of the instructional approaches. Modules are designed to provide teachers with the learning outcomes, hands-on experiences, reflection, and application.
Throughout the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook, there are blue boxes titled Professional Learning: Research Foundations, that state the research theory behind each section. The Research Foundations: Evidence Base book, contains all of the research behind the program. It describes the research and how the program delivers the research theory. Some examples include:
- On page 8, research is provided that supports the Balanced Literacy Approach and guided reading.
- On page 12 and 54, there is research that supports the blended learning environment of both working with students and working with technology.
- On page 15 to 16, research is provided for the need for differentiation.
- On page 46, the research of Dr. David Dockterman of Harvard Graduate School of Education is provided that explains the integration of mindset into lessons.
Indicator 3j
Materials contain strategies for informing all stakeholders, including students, parents, or caregivers about the ELA/literacy program and suggestions for how they can help support student progress and achievement.
Criterion 3.3: Assessment
Materials offer teachers resources and tools to collect ongoing data about student progress on the Standards.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the criterion for materials offer teacher resources and tools to collect ongoing data about student progress on the Standards. The materials regularly and systematically offer assessment opportunities that genuinely measure student progress. Assessments clearly denote which standards are being emphasized and they provide sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance and suggestions for follow-up. The materials include routines and guidance that point out opportunities to monitor student progress. The materials indicate how students are accountable for independent reading based on student choice and interest to build stamina, confidence, and motivation.
Indicator 3k
Materials regularly and systematically offer assessment opportunities that genuinely measure student progress.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials regularly and systematically offer assessment opportunities that genuinely measure student progress.
Throughout the year, there are multiple opportunities to assess students in order to monitor their progress. Assessments include Daily Formative Assessments, Intervention Assessments, Guided Reading Benchmark Assessments, Weekly Assessments, and Module Assessments. The assessments are explained in detail in the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook in the Assessment and Differentiation section. Assessments are available in both the print version and digitally. When given digitally, teachers are able to use two different reports to monitor progress.
Assessments are used to monitor student progress to plan for interventions. This includes:
- Screening Assessments: Use early in the school year to obtain preliminary information about student performance, screen students for interventions, and determine groups for foundational skills instruction. An Oral Reading Fluency Assessment is also provided to assess fluency, accuracy, and rate.
- Diagnostic Assessments: Use as follow-up assessments as needed for students who scored below expectations on the Screening Assessments. Assessments include Letter-Sound Correspondence Assessments and Word Identification Assessments.
- Progress Monitoring Assessments: Use every two weeks to measure growth in foundational reading skills. The goal is to identify challenging areas for reteaching, review, and extra practice, provide checks of students’ beginning reading skills, monitor the progress of students who are in reading interventions, and help determine when students are ready to exit an intervention. These assessments take three to five minutes.
Formative Assessments are also included and provide both Weekly and Module Assessments. The module inventories assess foundational skills at the end of each module. Data reports are provided for the online versions. The assessment report provides class scores for each assessment and analyzes student proficiency data. The standards report assesses students’ progress in standards proficiency.
There is also a Benchmark Assessment Kit that is used to determine students’ guided reading levels and make instructional decisions. These assessments include both fiction and nonfiction leveled readers. Rubrics are also provided to assess students’ writing and research projects. There are rubrics for narrative writing, informational writing, opinion writing, research writing, and Inquiry and Research Projects. The writing rubrics assess students in the areas of organization and presentation, development of ideas, and use of language and conventions. The rubric for the inquiry and research project assesses students in collaboration, research and text evidence, content, and presentation.
The program also includes Reading Surveys to gather information at the beginning and middle of the year about reading interests, attitudes, and preferences. The surveys inform the teacher on the following: focus for instructional planning, support for self-selected reading, and recommendation on books. The program also suggests that teachers keep Observation Notes and take notes during individual conferences, guided reading groups, small-group instruction, and independent reading and writing.
Indicator 3l
The purpose/use of each assessment is clear:
Indicator 3l.i
Assessments clearly denote which standards are being emphasized.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that assessments clearly denote which standards are being emphasized.
Module and Weekly assessments provide standards alignment. In the print version of the assessments, the answer key provides both the Common Core State Standards and the Depth of Knowledge for each question. In the digital version of the assessments, teachers can access the standards report, which shows students’ progress in standards proficiency.
Indicator 3l.ii
Assessments provide sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance and suggestions for follow-up.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that assessments provide sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance and suggestions for follow up.
The assessments provide sufficient guidance for interpreting student performance, and they provide suggestions for follow-up. The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook explains when to give the appropriate assessment and the students who need it administered to them. It also provides information on strategies that teachers can do to support students based on the results gained from the assessments. The Teacher’s Edition also provides differentiation guidance for each lesson based on assessment data. This gives teachers information on how to follow-up after assessments for both reteaching and interventions. The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook also includes information on administration and scoring of the screening, diagnostic, and progress-monitoring assessments. It also explains how to utilize writing rubrics to monitor growth in writing and use data to implement a multi-tiered system of supports.
The Differentiated Support and Intervention section of the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook provides information on guided reading groups, reading skill and strategy support groups, foundational skills support groups, and best practices for intervention support. Teachers use formative assessments, progress monitoring assessments, and benchmark assessments to plan for these different groups. In the reading skill and strategy support group, teachers reteach a skill or strategy that has not yet been mastered by a group of students. In the foundational skills group, the teacher provides reinforcement of daily foundational skills lessons during either small-group or one-on-one time. For students who need reinforcement with genres or skills, there are Tabletop Minilessons, which provide teachers with guidance on how to address and reteach students who do not perform well on assessments.
Data reports are available after students take Weekly and Module Assessments. These provide teachers with data to analyze gaps and gains, to form groups for differentiated instruction, and to locate resources to target students’ needs. The program recommends that teachers use the data reports to determine if students have met the learning objectives for the week or module, look for patterns in students’ errors to choose concepts and skills for reteaching, and decide if students are ready to advance to the next week or module of instruction.
In addition, for the Weekly Assessments and the Module Assessments, there is information on how to interpret the data. Teachers use the scores and additional classroom information to determine whether students are ready to advance to the next module or may require reteaching of some concepts and skills. It is suggested that for struggling students, the teacher duplicates the answer key, circles the question numbers answered incorrectly for each assessment, and compare the corresponding skills indicated. The teacher then looks for patterns among errors to determine which skills need more reteaching and practice.
Indicator 3m
Materials should include routines and guidance that point out opportunities to monitor student progress.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials should include routines and guidance that point out opportunities to monitor student progress.
The materials contain guidance and routines to monitor student progress. The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook outlines how teachers can use assessment tools to gather data and gain a more complete picture of students’ growth and instructional needs. There are opportunities to monitor progress via formative weekly and module assessments, screeners, progress monitoring, and oral reading fluency assessments. Routines and guidance to help monitor progress include portfolios, reading surveys, and observation notes.
In the Guided Principles and Strategies book, there is a map that shows the suggested timeline to plan instruction and administer assessments throughout the year. This plan includes times to administer the Intervention Assessments, Guided Reading Benchmark Assessment Kit, Weekly Assessments, Module Assessments, and Daily Formative Assessments. The program suggests that Daily Formative Assessments are used to provide data for small-group instruction. The Intervention Assessments are used at the beginning of the year with follow-up Diagnostic Assessments used for select students and Progress-Monitoring Assessments used every two weeks as needed. The Guided Reading Benchmark Assessment kit is used on an ongoing basis to assess students' reading skills. In addition, the Module Inventories are administered one-on-one to assess foundational skills more in depth as needed. Teachers use some or all parts of the inventory depending on children’s needs. Areas for assessment include phonological awareness, high-frequency words, decoding, and print concepts.
Portfolios are set up at the beginning of the year for each student and contain:
- Formal and informal assessments including the Weekly and Module Assessments, Screening and Diagnostic Assessments, observation notes, and project rubrics
- Work samples that include work from myBook, completed graphic organizers, writing samples, and photos of Inquiry and Research Projects
- Reading Surveys to show reading interests, attitudes, and preferences
- Observation Notes taken during conferences, guided reading groups, small-group instruction, and independent reading and writing
Indicator 3n
Materials indicate how students are accountable for independent reading based on student choice and interest to build stamina, confidence, and motivation.
Criterion 3.4: Differentiation
Materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so that they demonstrate independent ability with grade-level standards.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the criterion for materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so that they demonstrate independent ability with grade-level standards. The materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so the content is accessible to all learners and supports them in meeting or exceeding the grade-level standards. The materials regularly provide all students, including those who read, write, speak, or listen below grade level, or in a language other than English, with extensive opportunities to work with grade-level text and meet or exceed grade-level standards, while also regularly including extensions and/or more advanced opportunities for students who read, write, speak, or listen above grade level. The materials provide opportunities for teachers to use a variety of grouping strategies.
Indicator 3o
Materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so the content is accessible to all learners and supports them in meeting or exceeding the grade-level standards.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of range of learners so the content is accessible to all learners and supports them in meeting or exceeding the grade-level standards.
Throughout the program there are opportunities for the teacher to meet a range of learners due to the fact that the content is accessible to all learners and helps them meet or exceed the grade-level standards. The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook has a section called Assessment and Differentiation Within differentiation, there is a section about meeting the needs of special populations. This section outlines different populations of students and provides the teacher with several instructional focus strategies that can be used to support students with particular needs.
There are ways built into the program to meet the needs of all students. This includes guided reading groups, reading skill and strategy groups for students who have not yet mastered the whole-group objective, and foundational skills support to teach prerequisite foundational skills or reinforce daily foundational skills lessons. The materials also provide Tabletop Minilessons for students who need additional support with skills taught in the whole group. These lessons involve student-facing anchor charts on stand-up charts with the teacher support on the back. It is differentiated skills instruction that can be used with any text.
In Meeting the Needs of Special Populations section of the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook, there are strategies for various types of learners. Some of these include:
- If the challenge is concept knowledge and oral language, some supports include building background knowledge, teaching academic vocabulary directly, and providing scaffolds.
- If the challenge is dyslexia or word-reading skills, some supports include daily instruction in phonemic awareness, building automaticity of high-frequency words, and daily reading of connected texts.
- If the challenge is visual, hearing, physical, or cognitive disabilities, some supports include vary options for expressing understanding and ideas, provide ways for digital content to be accessible to students, and allow variations in the pace of the lesson. The materials have a section called Using Digital Features for Accessibility with information on how to access digital features to assist teachers and work with students who would benefit from digital materials.
- If the challenge is engagement in learning, some supports include exploring topics and texts that are suited to students’ skills and interests, providing clear and specific feedback, and promoting choice to build autonomy.
There is also a section called Supporting English Learners, which helps build teacher understanding of students’ first language and the stages of second language acquisition that can help teachers determine appropriate levels of scaffolding and targeted language support. There is also a section called Meeting the Needs of Accelerated Learners that provides support for students who are exceeding grade-level expectations.
Indicator 3p
Materials regularly provide all students, including those who read, write, speak, or listen below grade level, or in a language other than English, with extensive opportunities to work with grade level text and meet or exceed grade-level standards.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials regularly provide all students, including those who read, write, speak, or listen below grade level, or in a language other than English, with extensive opportunities to work with grade-level text and meet or exceed grade-level standards.
The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook contains an entire section called Supporting English Learners. This section outlines different strategies to support the learning of English Learner students. Teachers are also provided with background information on English Language Learners in order to better understand the stages of language acquisition. English Learner Support tips are embedded in lessons as well.
The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook provides information on the stages of language acquisition, how to support English Language Learners with this curriculum, and evidence-based strategies and practices to support students whose first language is other than English. Specific examples of this includes:
- There is an overview of the stages of acquiring the English Language. These stages are pre-production, early production, speech emergence, intermediate fluency, and advanced fluency.
- The curriculum has Tabletop Minilessons that introduce, review, and practice a particular language function. These lessons can be used with any text in the program and are meant to support English Language Learners.
- Evidence-based strategies are provided that can be used in any lesson. Some of the evidence-based strategies include building knowledge by showing videos on module topics, making learning visual by having images on vocabulary cards and anchor charts, and providing sentence frames for both verbal and written responses.
- In the Teacher's Guide for each lesson, there are English Learner supports provided. Supports are broken down into light support, such as having students use instructional vocabulary to point out and discuss facts and opinions in the text; moderate support, such as having students identify facts and opinions in the text; substantial support, such as the teacher pointing out facts and opinions in the text and having students say fact or opinion.
- A Language Difference resource chart is included to help teachers understand the differences between students’ first language and English. This is an online resource and includes languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean.
- There is also an entire section called Arriba la Lectura, which is a Spanish reading program that is to be used in conjunction with this curriculum. This program has a Dual Language Implementation Guide and a section of the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook is dedicated to this Spanish reading program.
The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook provides additional support for all students to help them access grade-level texts, which benefits students who are learning English as well. Information is provided on how to use data to form small groups in foundational skills, strategic interventions, small-group instruction, small-group weekly instruction, and other customized groups.
Indicator 3q
Materials regularly include extensions and/or more advanced opportunities for students who read, write, speak, or listen above grade level.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials regularly include extensions and/or more advanced opportunities for students who read, write, speak, or listen above grade level.
The curriculum provides extensions or more advanced opportunities for students who perform above grade-level. In the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook, there is a section titled Meeting the Needs of Accelerated Learners, which provides teachers with information and strategies to support accelerated learners. The section provides teachers with information and a description of an accelerated learner, parts of the curriculum that support accelerated learners, and strategies for supporting accelerated learners in the classroom and throughout the lessons. Lessons also provide extension work for students who are accelerated or finish early.
The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook has an entire section on supporting accelerated learners. The program defines accelerated learners as students whose skills are above grade level and are ready for more accelerated learning experiences, such as more challenging books, more writing opportunities, or leadership roles. Some specifics from the program include:
- Throughout the program, there are sections labeled Extend, which are daily opportunities in small-group lessons to extend a skill or strategy.
- Guided Reading Groups and Rigby Leveled Readers provide texts that are above grade level.
- The Tabletop Minilessons provide support as students apply comprehension skills to higher-level texts that they read independently.
Strategies are provided for teachers to consider while planning individual lessons and the culture of the classroom. These include:
- Build classroom libraries that represent a range of text levels.
- Provide more challenging versions of the activities instead of requiring students to just do more work.
- Use flexible groups and change groups frequently because students may be above level for one skill but not for another skill.
- Provide opportunities for students to make their own decisions. Accelerated students should take on leadership roles and assist classmates when appropriate.
Indicator 3r
Materials provide opportunities for teachers to use a variety of grouping strategies.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the expectation that materials provide opportunities for teachers to use a variety of grouping strategies.
The materials provide suggestions and descriptions for a variety of grouping strategies throughout the program. The Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook gives an overview of how these group strategies work, and the Teacher's Guide uses labels throughout the program to show teachers when the grouping strategy should be used during the lessons. Strategies for groups include small groups, targeted skill groups, and whole-class. Groups can be composed for Guided Reading, English Language Support, Skills and Strategies, or Foundational Skills. Teachers use data to form these groups and to change groups throughout the year.
In the Guiding Principles and Strategies Handbook, there is an overview of recommendations for groupings and various strategies to use to form these groups in a section called Forming Flexible Groups. This section helps teachers make the most of small-group time by using data to thoughtfully form groups that will optimize student growth. Flexible groups are formed to teach skills that a cohort of students need to learn or review. In addition, Strategic Interventions for Tier 2 and Tier 3 can be implemented using data from multiple measures. More information on these groups include:
- Guided reading groups are formed based on the Guiding Reading Benchmark Assessment Kit, and Oral Reading Records. The program includes the Rigby Leveled Readers, Take and Teach Lessons, and Tabletop Minilessons for reading to teach these groups.
- English Language Support groups are formed based on the state English Language Development assessments. The curriculum includes Tabletop Minilessons for English Language Development, English Language Support lessons, and language graphic organizers.
- Skills and Strategies groups are formed based on daily formative assessments and weekly assessments. The materials include Tabletop Minilessons, reinforce skills and strategies lessons, and reading graphic organizers.
- Foundational skills groups are formed by informal assessments. Foundational skills lessons and foundational skills and word study studio is available for these lessons.
In addition to these groups, teachers are also instructed during whole-group lessons to have students participate in Collaborative Discussions, Turn and Talks, Think-Pair-Shares, and Partner Reads. In addition, there are opportunities for students to echo read and choral read.
Criterion 3.5: Technology Use
Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning. Digital materials are accessible and available in multiple platforms.
The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet the criterion for materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning. Digital materials are accessible and available in multiple platforms. Although digital materials are web-based, compatible with multiple internet browsers, “platform neutral,” follow universal programming style, and allow the use of tablets and mobile devices, the Teacher’s Guide is poorly formatted on mobile devices. Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning, drawing attention to evidence and texts as appropriate. Digital materials include opportunities for teachers to personalize learning for all students, using adaptive or other technological innovations and the materials can be easily customized for local use. The materials include or reference technology that provide limited opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate with each other.
Indicator 3s
Digital materials (either included as supplementary to a textbook or as part of a digital curriculum) are web-based, compatible with multiple Internet browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.), "platform neutral" (i.e., are compatible with multiple operating systems such as Windows and Apple and are not proprietary to any single platform), follow universal programming style, and allow the use of tablets and mobile devices.
Indicator 3t
Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning, drawing attention to evidence and texts as appropriate.
Indicator 3u
Materials can be easily customized for individual learners.
Indicator 3u.i
Digital materials include opportunities for teachers to personalize learning for all students, using adaptive or other technological innovations.
Indicator 3u.ii
Materials can be easily customized for local use.
Indicator 3v
Materials include or reference technology that provides opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate with each other (e.g. websites, discussion groups, webinars, etc.).