New Review: Curriculum Associates’ Ready Florida English Language Arts

Learning List has reviewed print materials for ­­Curriculum Associates’ Ready Florida English Language Arts program. Ready Florida is a supplemental resource for grades K-8 that supports reading instruction and mastery of the Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS). Materials are available in print format with additional online components. Instruction addresses grade-level LAFS while developing students’ critical thinking skills and understanding of literary and informational texts.

Ready Florida English Language Arts Student Instruction Books present content in units that address LAFS Anchor Standards (e.g., Craft and Structure in Literature). Units are made up of week-long lessons that focus on a particular theme (e.g., adventure) and genre (e.g., realistic fiction). Instruction is structured using the Gradual Release of Responsibility (i.e., GRR) instructional model. The first day of each lesson is an Introduction that provides a student-friendly explanation of what students will learn (i.e., the standard), reading strategies, and the steps to follow to implement strategies. Subsequent days provide Modeled and Guided Instruction, Guided Practice, and Independent Practice. Each day includes a writing activity.

At each grade level, “Teacher Resource Books” contain materials to assist teachers in the transition to the LAFS and to use Ready Florida materials. Resource Books provide a crosswalk document that explains how the Ready Florida program addresses the demands of the LAFS, and a table detailing the research supporting Ready Florida language arts strategies (e.g., close reading, scaffolded instruction). A pair of tables (1) identify lesson activities and problems that require higher level thinking as measured by Webb’s Depth of Knowledge index, and (2) present a “Cognitive Rigor Matrix” that combines Webb’s and Bloom’s indicators of higher-level thinking and describes student behaviors that demonstrate higher-level thinking.

 About Curriculum Associates*

Curriculum Associates is a rapidly growing education company committed to making classrooms better places for teachers and students. We believe that all children have the chance to succeed, and our research-based, award-winning products, including i-Ready®, Ready®, BRIGANCE®, and other programs, provide teachers and administrators with flexible resources that deliver meaningful assessments and data-driven, differentiated instruction for children.

Because we are independently owned and operated, we are able to provide the best prices so that every district, school, and educator can afford to bring top quality resources to their students. By maintaining our independence, we are able to channel our investments toward the things that really matter—like product development, research, and unmatched customer service.

For the past 40 years, we have consistently developed high-quality products that make a profound difference in the lives of students and educators, and we will continue to bring these proven products—as well as new ones—to you in the future.

*The content in this section is provided by or adapted from Curriculum Associates.

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