180 Days Of Reading

So, you'd like to use "real" books in your reading program but are a little concerned about missing those core reading skills lessons that are part of most basal reading programs. Here's a great remedy offering short, easy lessons that you can use in tandem with reading those classic children's books. Like its math counterpart (180 Days of Math), each book provides diagnostics, practice and assessments to meet state reading skills standards by grade.

Revised 2^nd edition worktexts offer a similar format and pace as the previous edition. One notable difference is the use of color in the PK-5th grade books, which are more visually appealing for younger learners. The revised editions provide a greater focus on the science of reading in the building of reading comprehension and the units have a slightly different structure. Each grade level worktext is organized into 12 units, with each unit offering a 3 week-5 day per week format. Week 1 focuses on nonfiction readings, week 2 fiction readings, and week 3 non-traditional resources like advertisements, letters, poems, etc. Weeks 1-2 students complete the reading lesson by answering questions which may be multiple choice, short answer, response questions, or completing graphic organizers. During week 3, students will read the non-traditional text, and will answer questions or complete close-reading and writing activities. We do still offer the first edition at some grade levels. The first editions are organized differently with the exercises organized in 5-day groups. The first three days present a brief fiction or nonfiction passage, followed by four or five questions (depending on grade). These are very short to read and complete. The fourth day has a longer selection with more questions to answer. On the fifth day, your student will re-read the final selection and respond to it using the provided prompt. First editions do not offer the colorful workbook pages in the lower levels.

Answers to all exercises are in the back of the book. Since questions are presented in a predictable pattern of skills, you can quickly diagnose any reading skill deficiencies by noting the number of the question(s) missed. Reading skills practiced are:

- reading comprehension/close reading through paired texts

- identifying main idea and theme

- interpreting meanings and tone of words and phrases

- determining author's purpose and point of view

- applying phonics and word-analysis skills

- making logical inferences

-analyzing figurative language

-summarizing key details and ideas

- responding to literature

Recording form masters are included as additional downloads that can be accessed with information from the book. Also included as bonus downloads are the Standards Correlations Chart, writing rubric, fluency rubric, and class/individual analysis sheets. Reproducible for a single classroom. Text material presents secular themes, including evolutionary content. ~Janice/Deanne