My principal has found on a survey website that Open Court 2005, Houghton Mifflin 2005, McGraw-Hill 2005, and Harcourt Trophies 2005 reading series are identified as having the best reading practices. We currently use Scott Foresman 2002. Can anyone using the above 2005 series give me any feedback into why/how the best reading practices are taught, as opposed to other reading series? Thank you!
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Reading series opinions needed
- Thread starter dp
- Start date
melgirl03
Full Member
Houghton Mifflin 2005
I have used this reading program in my classroom for the past 2 years and I REALLY love it
Our school requires us to teach a 90 minute literacy block - 30+ minutes of whole group and 60 minutes of small groups/centers. HM really lends itself to that format - even giving specific small group activities (it even differentiates the activities) and center activities for each story.
The week is mapped out day to day (M-F) and it is divided into the four domains - comprehension, fluency, vocab., and phonics. There is plenty of material to fill whole group, small groups, and centers for the entire week.
They also have supplemental materials that provide challenge activities for your students who are performing above grade level as well as remediation for those who are performing below grade level.
All in all, I believe this is an excellent series. We had our review/adoption two years ago and I was SO excited that we went with HM. We reviewed all of the series you listed above and HM was chosen above all the others (every teacher gets a vote!). It wasn't even a close vote!!
Hope this helps
I have used this reading program in my classroom for the past 2 years and I REALLY love it
Our school requires us to teach a 90 minute literacy block - 30+ minutes of whole group and 60 minutes of small groups/centers. HM really lends itself to that format - even giving specific small group activities (it even differentiates the activities) and center activities for each story. The week is mapped out day to day (M-F) and it is divided into the four domains - comprehension, fluency, vocab., and phonics. There is plenty of material to fill whole group, small groups, and centers for the entire week.
They also have supplemental materials that provide challenge activities for your students who are performing above grade level as well as remediation for those who are performing below grade level.
All in all, I believe this is an excellent series. We had our review/adoption two years ago and I was SO excited that we went with HM. We reviewed all of the series you listed above and HM was chosen above all the others (every teacher gets a vote!). It wasn't even a close vote!!
Hope this helps
Harcourt Trophies
I like much of the literature in this series, but the language arts elements are very weak in my opinion. We have leveled readers that use the same vocabulary as the main story, but, again, the stories are a little contrived at times and there are no leveled skills. I guess I am "old school". I have students who still need phonics instruction and there is almost none. We are required to do guided reading groups each day, but aside from the leveled readers, we don't have materials. We have to develop our own materials to meet needs in our groups.
I like much of the literature in this series, but the language arts elements are very weak in my opinion. We have leveled readers that use the same vocabulary as the main story, but, again, the stories are a little contrived at times and there are no leveled skills. I guess I am "old school". I have students who still need phonics instruction and there is almost none. We are required to do guided reading groups each day, but aside from the leveled readers, we don't have materials. We have to develop our own materials to meet needs in our groups.
kfulweiler
Junior Member
We re-adopted Scott Foresman... 
It is ridiculously hard and off target for our kids. The stories are written so far above their vocabulary and comprehension level that they can't do anything on their own. I liked the set up and content of the Harcourt Trophies series that we viewed during our adoption process.
K
It is ridiculously hard and off target for our kids. The stories are written so far above their vocabulary and comprehension level that they can't do anything on their own. I liked the set up and content of the Harcourt Trophies series that we viewed during our adoption process.
K