Program Overview: Grades 4 - 5
Read STOP Write is a research-based program that uses a novel approach to integrating foundational skills, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing instruction within the context of authentic informational text reading in order to improve fourth- and fifth-grade students’ reading achievement, writing quality, and motivation to read informational text.
The program includes 24 weeks of lessons in each grade for teachers to explicitly teach students how to use an instructional routine when reading and writing about a grade-level informational text over four days of 30-minute sessions. During each four-day lesson, teachers and students use a six-step routine to:
1. Read the text twice.
2. Summarize the main idea and details.
3. Re-read to identify the Text structure.
4. Organize ideas and details.
5. Plan to write about the topic.
6. Write an informative paragraph about the topic.
The six steps include evidence-based practices that address prior knowledge, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and motivation to read.
The lesson plans follow principles of explicit instruction, employing a gradual release of responsibility that begins with teacher modeling of the strategy steps, guided practice using the strategies with feedback, and independent practice.
The student guidebook includes think-sheets, materials designed to facilitate the use of the strategy steps. It includes an Overview of Read STOP Write, a Reading and Learning Words Guide and Sheet, a Summary Sheet, a Text Structure Guide, Text Structure Maps representing the five common informational text structures, a Planning Sheet, and a Writing Sheet.
The instructional units each include a set of informational texts that address topics aligned with grade-level social studies and science standards. The topics were selected based on the Next Generation Science Standards, the New York State Social Studies Framework, and the Michigan Social Studies Standards. The lessons also address the New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Standards. The texts are used with permission from ReadWorks.org and are consistent with college and career readiness text complexity expectations in grades 4-5.
We hope you and your students enjoy teaching and learning with Read STOP Write!