English Language Arts Elementary

In TTSD, our vision is for every student to thrive in school and graduate prepared to succeed. Elementary reading instruction plays a critical role in a student’s future academic success. Reading skills acquired in elementary school allow students to access curriculum across content areas, as well as improve other skills such as language, writing, speaking and listening. We also believe that elementary reading instruction should be a fun, engaging, and hands-on experience for young children.

When teaching students to read, their success is a reflection of high expectations. With that in mind, we provide effective reading instruction using a research-based core curriculum, aligned to the science of reading. Important elements of TTSD’s core reading instruction in elementary school include:

• Core reading instruction is delivered for 90 minutes per day, 5 days per week

• All students receive core reading instruction - we meet students where they are at and provide differentiated instruction appropriate to their individual rate and level of learning

• Core reading curriculum is delivered with fidelity by skilled and trained classroom teachers

• Teachers include active engagement/effective instructional strategies throughout core reading instruction

• Core reading instruction includes both whole group and small group learning opportunities

Instructional Resource(s)

Kindergarten - 5th Grade 

Journeys Core Curriculum  

Journeys is our current K-5 reading curriculum. This adoption was most recently renewed by the school board in spring of 2022. Teachers utilize the Journeys curriculum to deliver instruction in Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension. Journeys features a variety of text types: decodable text aligned to phonics instruction,  complex anchor texts and leveled text for small group instruction.

 Heggerty Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds in spoken words and the understanding that spoken words and syllables are made up of sequences of speech sounds. Through daily 10-minute Heggerty lessons, students receive explicit instruction in phonemic awareness

 Enhanced Core Reading Instruction (ECRI)

Our explicit phonics program, ECRI, is designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of reading instruction in kindergarten, first and second grade. ECRI is aligned with the Journeys core curriculum and includes encoding (dictation) as well as opportunities to practice learned phonic skills with paired decodable text.

 REWARDS

In fourth grade, all students receive explicit, systemic, teacher-led phonics instruction. Through daily 10-minute REWARDS lessons, explicit teacher-led instruction focuses on decoding multisyllabic words, identifying prefixes and suffixes, and gives students new skills to unlock grade-level content-area text.

 Learning A to Z (Raz-Plus)

Raz-Plus is a comprehensive learning app that includes personalized resources for students. All K-5 students have access to a wide range of high-interest books in Raz-Plus. Teachers utilize Raz-Plus to strengthen the connection between what is being taught during core reading instruction and what students are practicing independently.

 i-Ready Personalized Instruction (MyPath)

All students have access to i-Ready MyPath. The MyPath lessons are based on their individual skill level and needs, so students can learn at a pace that is just right for them. MyPath lessons are fun and interactive to keep students engaged as they learn.

Reading Intervention Resources

TTSD utilizes a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework to provide additional support for students in the area of reading. The RTI process begins with early identification and support for students through universal screening of all children and high quality core classroom instruction provided by the general education teacher. 

We screen students using Acadience Learning and i-Ready. Students identified in the lowest 20% are provided with reading interventions at increasing levels of intensity to accelerate their personal rate of learning. Reading interventions are provided in addition to core reading instruction and are delivered by a variety of staff, including general education teachers, specialists, or instructional assistants. 

Decisions regarding the intensity and duration of an intervention are made based on each student’s response to the instruction and intervention they receive. Interventions are closely monitored by the school MTSS team and we consider a student’s response to intervention when making decisions in both general education and special education. TTSD’s MTSS process creates an integrated system of instruction and intervention, all guided by student outcome data.

Current research-based reading intervention programs:

Early Reading Intervention (ERI)

SIPPS

Phonics for Reading

Intensified Enhanced Core Reading Instruction (ECRI)

Heggerty

ReadLive

Contact Us:

Morgan Whitney
K-5 Literacy Specialist/RTI TOSA
(503) 431-4194
mwhitney@ttsd.k12.or.us