Wonders Curriculum- Your ELA Block

Do you struggle with how to use your Wonders ELA block? Where do you spend your time with the Wonders Reading Program? So many stories, passages, skills, strategies, vocabulary, grammar, writing. HELP!! Even seasoned, veteran teachers struggle with maximizing precious time.

Today’s Focus- The Story- The Heart of Wonders Curriculum

I have always approached this topic of where to spend time with the Wonders Reading Program by starting with the story. It is the heart of the curriculum. I first focused on the story or passage being read for the week. I teach all of the key elements through the lense of the story. All of the other pieces of your ELA block can be interwoven through the story. At the start of each week, we preview all of the key curriculur components. I will use Wonders 2023 or 2020 4th Grade Unit 1 Week 1 and 2 as an example.

On Mondays…

I would list all these elements on the board. This serves two purposes. First, it keeps me on track. Second, it visually shows students the learning objective for the week. It’s like backwards planning- if we know what need to learn, then we work backwards to make sure we cover everything.

Key Elements

• The Essential Question for Weeks 1 and 2 is “How do people respond to natural disasters?”
• The Comprehension Skill is “Text Structure- Compare and Contrast”
• The Comprehension Strategy is “Reread”
• Vocabulary Words– after, collapse, crisis, destruction, hazard, severe, substantial, unpredictable
• The vocabulary Strategies are “Multiple-Meaning Words” and “Homographs”
• The Literatrue Anthology Anchor Text is “Earthquakes”
• The Paired Selection is “Weathering the Storm”
• The Grammar and Mechanics for Week 1 is “Sentences and Punctuation” and Subjects and Predicates, Punctuate Compound Subjects and Predicates
• Writing Process– Personal Narrative

Next- Focus on the Story

For me, I usually focus on the anchor passage in the anthology. I would rather use a higher level text and scaffold for strategic and intensive learners. We have to pick and choose what to read because there is too much text to cover. It’s a short amount of time with so much to do. Focus on one text (if you can) and dig deeper into the text.

I developed a template to guide student learning. It is used for all passages. I use it in different ways. It allows higher level thinkers to challenge themselves. Strategic and intensive students can be successful as well while working in cooperative, heterogenous learning groups.

Depth and Complexity

You may be familiar with the term “Depth and Complexity” through the lens of a GATE program (Gifted and Talented Students). I use the icons off depth and complexity for all students. All students can become higher level thinkers. They need structure, tools and collaboration.

Students LOVE to Work in Groups!

I’ve used this template in so many ways, but students BEG to work in small groups. You can have heterogenous groups and assign 3 or 4 icons. After reading the passage, students discuss their icons. As a group, they develop a comprehensive analysis of their icons. If you have a very diverse class, create homorgenous groups. Students who are strategic or intensive can work on icons such as key details, vocabulary, and main idea. They feel valued because they are able to access the text and analyze it just like the advanced, higher level thinkers.

Our supplements also contain the icons, what they mean, and who to teach them.

Stay tuned for future blog posts focusing on all the supplements we have created for the Wonders curriclum. We’ve developed resources for 2nd through 6th Grades for Wonders 2017, and resources for 2nd through fifth grades for Wonders 2023 and 2020.

Until next time!

Carol from The Teacher Team