ILA

We will continue to use the Harcourt Brace reading program that unifies the K-5 curriculum throughout

Harford County. The program places a strong emphasis on phonics, comprehension and grammar. It will

help students apply various word identification strategies to unknown words. There are two reading

textbooks organized around the following themes:

Themes	Focus Skills	Focus Strategies
“Something Special” (self –discovery)	Prefixes and Suffixes Word Identification Strategies Predict Outcomes Multiple Meaning Words Elements of Nonfiction	Make and Confirm Predictions Use Prior Knowledge Reread Summarize Adjust Reading Rate
"What a Team!” (working together)	Story Elements Drawing Conclusions Vocabulary in Context Making Inferences Reality and Fantasy	Use Prior Knowledge Use Context to Confirm Meaning Use Text Structure and Format Use Graphic Aids Self Question
"Friends to Grow With” (growth and change),	Synonyms and Antonyms Locating Information Main Idea Homographs and Homophones Author's Purpose	Read Ahead Create Mental Images Use Context to Confirm Meaning Use Reference Sources Self Question
"Tell Me a Story” (creativity),	Sequence Syllabication Fact and Opinion Figurative language Skim and Scan	Self Question Use Text Structure and Format Summarize Make and Confirm Predictions Create Mental Images
“Good Neighbors” (communities)	Character's Feelings and Actions Compare and Contrast Summarize Study Strategies Paraphrase	Reread Use Prior Knowledge Use Reference Sources Use Context to Confirm Meaning Adjust Reading Rate
“Celebrate Our World” (exploration).	Important Details Problem Solving Cause and Effect Referents Taking Notes	Create Mental Images Read Ahead Graphic Aids Use Context to Confirm Meaning Use Text Structure and format

The themes will “help students realize that they are a part of a large interdependent world and help them

develop a sense of responsibility

Students will use the steps of the writing process and develop the three purposes of writing; to inform, to

persuade and expressing a personal idea. They will write personal narratives to express personal ideas.

Their writing will include time order words, sensory details, and correct punctuation and capitalization.

Specific writing products will include several paragraphs, stories, an advertisement, letters, thank you

notes, invitations and poetry.

The Zaner Bloser handwriting method will be used to make the transition from manuscript to cursive

writing. They will learn how to form each letter correctly emphasizing the size, slant and shape of the

letters to form words.