Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Kindergarten
Subject: ELA
First Semester Units to be covered:
Alphabet letters A-M
-recognize state and discriminate letters A-M
-formation of letters Aa-Mm
-letter sounds/hear, state, discriminate
Word families
-introduction “at”, “an”
Sight words
-recognize, state, write high frequency words (20 words exposed)
Phonemic Awareness
-rhythm, rhyme
-sequence of sounds
-separation of sounds
Writing
-personal writing (journals, individual books)
-predictable writing (repetitive books)
-interactive writing (charts, class books)
Questioning
-who, what, when, (teacher modeling and student)
-drawing conclusions, inferences, etc.
Literature
-beginning reading books (students read)
-fiction, non-fiction books (comparisons)
-themes: colors, school fire safety
-Halloween, Thanksgiving
-Christmas
Author of the week: Eric Carle, Norman Bridwell, Jan Brett, Robert Munsch, Raffi, Lois Ehlert,
Ellen Stohlwalsh, Mercer Meyer, Bill Martin Jr., Rosemary Wells
Second Semester Units to be covered:
Alphabet letters N-Z
-recognize, state and discriminate letters N-Z
-formation of letters Nn-Zz
-letter sounds (hear, state, discriminate)
Word families
-introduction “am”, “ap” (some mastery, some exposure)
Sight words
-recognize, state, write high frequency words
-20 words mastered, 60 words exposed
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Phonemic Awareness
-rhythm, rhyme
-sequence of sounds
-manipulation of sounds
-parts of words
-separation of sounds
Writing
-personal writing (journals, individual books)
-predictable writing (repetitive books)
-interactive writing (charts, class books, birthday books)
Questioning
-who, what, when, (teacher modeling and student)
-drawing conclusions, inferences, etc.
Literature
-beginning reading books (students read)
-fiction, non-fiction books (comparisons)
-themes: Winter, Groundhog Day
Valentine’s Day, President’s Day
Martin Luther King, St. Patrick’s
Easter, Spring, Plants
Author of the week: Marc Brown, Don & Audrey Wood, Esra Jack Keats, Leo Lionni,
Pat Hutchins, Robert Kraus, Margaret Wise Brown, Frank Asch, Don Freeman,
Jan & Stan Berenstein
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: One
Subject: ELA
First Semester Units to be covered:
Review letter sounds
-consonants
-phonemic awareness, short vowel sounds
-learn consonant clusters and digraphs
-reading strategies
-review and extend sight vocabulary
Intro to comprehension skills
-sequence of events
-compare and contrast
-noting details
-fantasy vs. realism – book genre
-story structure – topic, main idea, details
-making predictions
-cause and effect
Possessive nouns
Contractions
Inflectional endings –s, -ed, -ing
Penmanship
Sentence structure
Spelling – READ (decoding and encoding)
Second Semester Units to be covered:
Learn long vowel patterns, diphthongs, vowel pairs
Continue all comprehension skills above plus
-drawing conclusions
-making generalizations
Continue READ decoding and encoding
Compound words
Inflectional endings –es, -ies
R – controlled vowels
Writing
-topic sentence with supporting details
-intro to creative writing
-letter writing
-short stories
-non fiction
-lists
-graphic organizers (KWL, Venn diagrams)
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Two
Subject: ELA
Comprehension Strategic Reading
First Semester Units to be covered:
Story structure
Fantasy/Realism
Predicting outcomes
Compare/contrast
Fact/opinion
Categorize/classify
Making predictions
Making judgments
Sequencing
Main idea/detail
Summarizing
Problem solving
Making inference
Author’s purpose
Second Semester Units to be covered:
Drawing conclusions
Text organization
Cause and effect
Making Generalizations
Following directions
Author’s viewpoint
Noting details
Summarize
Monitor and clarify
Reading non-fiction (expository text)
Reading fiction (Narrative text)
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Two
Subject: ELA
Spelling/Decoding
First Semester Units to be covered:
Short vowel patterns
Long vowel patterns
Vowel consonant –e spellings
Consonant clusters
Double consonants
Words with th, sh, wh, ch
Base words with –s, -ing, -ed endings
Syllables
Second Semester Units to be covered:
R-controlled vowel patterns
Words that end in nk, ng, nd, nt, np
Contractions
Endings (suffix) –ed, -ing, -s
Oi/oy
Oo/ew, ue, ou
Ou/ow
Suffix ly/ful
Prefix –un
-tion -ture
-er ending in 2 syllable words
-le ending in 2 syllable words
Contractions
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Two
Subject: ELA
Study Skills
First Semester Units to be covered:
ABC order by 1st, 2nd, letter
Book parts
Graphic aids,} Maps, charts, graphs
How to Use,} Tables, diagrams, time lines
Study Strategies (K-W-L)
Content area reading
Following directions – Using a recipe
Using guide words in a dictionary
Using a calendar
Second Semester Units to be covered:
ABC order by 3rd letter
Use reference sources
-Glossary, dictionary
-Atlas
-Newspaper – captions, headlines
How to take notes
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Two
Subject: ELA
Grammar
First Semester Units to be covered:
What is a sentence?
Naming/Action parts of sentences
Telling/Question sentences
Commands/exclamations
Naming words
Special Nouns
One and more than one nouns
Nouns that change spelling
Synonyms
Antonyms
Multiple meaning words
Homophones Compound words
Using Content
Using Me and I
Second Semester Units to be covered:
Singular possessive nouns
-Plural possessive nouns
Verbs
-Verbs that tell now, past
-Verbs is/are was/were
-Irregular verbs
Adjectives – a, an, the
-Comparing with adjectives – er, est
Dictionary
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Two
Subject: ELA Writing
First Semester Units to be covered:
Story
-writing process
-beginning, middle and end
-writing sentences
-begin topic sentences, concluding sentence
Description
-writing process
-using sensory language
-adding details
-writing sentences
Friendly letter
-writing process
-the 5 parts of a letter
-telling enough
-using different kinds of sentences
Staying on topic
Journal entries
-voice, personal narratives
Writing answers to questions
Forming a paragraph
-TS, details, CS
Response journal entry
Second Semester Units to be covered:
Writing to persuade audience
Writing an opinion paragraph
Problem solution paragraph
Autobiographies – Biographies
Poetry
Research reporting
-writing process
-find and evaluate information
-use facts to write a report
Instructions
-sequencing steps
-time order words
Writing a paragraph that explains
*These units/topics are introduced according to the theme units,
but are reinforced and used throughout the year.
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Two
Subject: ELA
Listening/Speaking/Viewing
First Semester Units to be covered:
Retelling of stories
Participation in group discussions
Make a descriptive presentation
Giving personal information
Telling a story through drama
Second Semester Units to be covered:
Give clear directions
Give a presentation
Describing a photograph
Putting on a play
How to look at fine art
Giving non-verbal cues
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Three
Subject: ELA
First Semester Units to be covered:
Grammar skills
-nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, contractions, compound words, prefixes/suffix
sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, sequence words
Vocabulary
-context cues (READ), word walls, homonyms, synonyms, multi-meaning words, dictionary skills
key words, selection vocabulary, glossary (Basal series and Trade books)
Comprehension Skills
-main idea, prediction, conclusion, sequence, fact vs. opinion, fantasy vs. reality,
increased fluency/expression
Study Skills
-Chart use with KWL, glossary and index strategies locating and reading headings,
use of graphic aids/organizers, study guides, increase listening skills, follow directions,
note taking
Writing Skills
-Use of the writing process, use of 4 – block/square writing, self-editing use of graphic
organizers, brainstorming, beginning – middle – end, descriptive writing, narrative writing,
writing letters, journal entries, note taking, supporting details
Second Semester Units to be covered:
Grammar Skills
-Possessives, mechanics, capitalization ad punctuation, pronouns, book titles, abbreviations,
quotation marks, commas, introductory words
Vocabulary
-Use phonetics, structural/contextual clues to determine meaning (Basal and Trade Books)
Comprehension Skills
-inferences compare/contrast supporting details, cause/effect, summarize, identifying various
genres, author’s purpose
Study Skills
-Use of thesaurus locating information in an encyclopedia, use of study guides, increase
listening skills, following directions, note-taking
Writing Skills
-Use of the writing process, use of 4 Block/Square writing, self –editing, expository writing,
persuasive writing, forms of poetry, beginning research reports, how-to writing, book reports
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Four
Subject: English, Writing, Spellin
First Semester Units to be covered:
ENGLISH
* What is a Sentence?
* Types of Sentences
-statement
-command
-question
-exclamation
* Run-on Sentences
* Subjects & Predicates
* Compound Sentences
* Combining Sentences
* Proper Noun Capitalization
* Capitalizing Titles
WRITING
SPELLING
* Writing Good Paragraphs
* 20 -25 words weekly
-topic sentence
-details, details, details
-closing statement
-letter patterns
-alphabetical order
-synonyms
-antonyms
-homophones
-analogies dictation
♦Reading and Writing Excellence
Workbook
* On-demand Writing (30 - 45 min.)
-Friendly Letters
-Various topics
(fiction and nonfiction)
♦Process Writing
* Spelling Games
-spelling bees
-spelling basketball
-sparkle
-personal narrative descriptive
*ELA Test Prep
-Session 2 (Listen and Write) Session 3 (Read and Write)
*Abbreviations
Second Semester Units to be Covered
ENGLISH
WRITING
SPELLING
* Commas
* On-demand Writing (30 - 45 min.) - [Same as above]
Friendly Letters
* Quotes
-Various topics (fiction
and nonfiction)
-Introduction to DBQ's
♦Process Writing
* Articles
* Pronouns
* Nouns
* Verbs
-expository persuasive
-poetry unit
* Adjectives
* Adverbs
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Hoosic Valley Central School District
Core Curriculum Topics
Grade: Four
Fist Semester Units to be covered:
Group Reading (leveled)
[Titles will vary]
Teacher GUIDES
Comprehension
^Scholastic News
* Welcome back to school
-Sibling Rivalry
Tales of a Fourth Grade
Nothing
-Friendship
Because of Winn Dixie
The Tiger Rising
* Fun and Light
-Chocolate Theme
Chocolate Fever
The Chocolate Touch
The Chocolate Lover
Subject: Reading
ReadAloud
[Titles will vary]
Teacher MODELS
Comprehension
* Welcome
back to school
-Fourth Grade
Amber Brown Goes Fourth
Class President
Frindle
♦ Welcome back to school
-Sibling Rivalry
If Wishes Were Horses
-Owls/Animals/Environment
Owls in the Family
Midnight
Fox Just a
Dream
♦ Social
Studies Theme
-Native Americans
The Sign of the Beaver
If You Lived with the Iroquois
The Courage of Sarah Noble
-Explorers
The Travels of Henry Hudson
* Junior Great Books
Various Titles
♦ Think Along Workbook
(Modeled with teacher)
* How to Read a Trade Book,
-Teacher Modeled
Freckle Juice
♦Students read choice book daily
for 15-20 minutes. Written
accountability is designed by the
♦ Fun and Light
-Chocolate Theme
Mercedes and the Chocolate
Chocolate
by Hershey
Pilot
-Roald Dahl
Charlie & the Chocolate
Factory Charlie & the Great
Glass Elevator
James
and the Giant Peach
* Science Theme
Independent Reading
-Vivid Language
Picture Books
* Science Theme
-Owls
There's an Owl in the Shower
Hoot
.♦Multiple Choice Questioning
-Teacher Models
Eliminating poor responses
Re-reading the passage
Underling phrases in the passage
♦Teacher - Student Conferencing
♦Book Projects
Genre Studies....
NY Setting
♦ELA Test Prep
Session 1 (Multiple Choice)
♦ Social Studies Theme
-Native Americans
The Last of the Mohicans
The Sign of the Beaver
Maggie Among the Seneca
-Explorers
Voyage of the Halfmoon
Holiday
The Tell-Tale Heart
The Last Holiday Concert
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Second Semester Units to be covered:
Group Reading
* Social Studies Theme
-Colonial Times
Sarah, Plain and Tall
If you Lived in Colonial Times
Basketmoon
-American Revolution
Phoebe the
Spy Toliver 's
Secret Bishop
Sarah
The Secret Soldier
Thomas, 1778: Patriots on the
Run
-Immigration
Molly's Pilgrim
* Science Theme
-Plants
Carnivorous Plants
The Plant that Ate Dirty Socks
Read Aloud
*Social Studies Theme
♦Students read choice book daily
-American Revolution
Guns for General Washington
Drums at Saratoga
My Brother Sam, is
Dead The Sign
Painter's Secret
-Erie Canal
for 15-20 minutes. Written
accountability is designed by the
teacher.
Assorted Titles
-Immigration
Dreaming of
America Coming to
America Journey to
Ellis Island
* Science
Theme
-Plants
Top Secret
* Author's Craft/Adventure
A Series of Unfortunate Events
*End of Year
*End of Year
-Author Study (Roald Dahl)
Student chooses 3 of 7 titles
*Personal Growth/Character Ed.
-Author Study (Roald Dahl)
The Twits
*Personal Growth/Character Ed.
Shiloh
JThe War with Grandpa
Teacher - Student Conferencing
*Author Study (Chris VanAllsburg)
* Character Study
-Electricity
Thomas Edison
*Poetrv
Independent Reading
Leon's Story
Loser
Reading comprehension includes all of the following:
main idea
details
context clues
predictions
sequencing
summarizing
story elements - character traits, setting, plot, problem
drawing conclusions
inferencing
compare and contrast cause and effect
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*Book Projects
Award Winning Books
Famous Immigrant Biography