We know that planning and preparation for summer school is time consuming.
So, we developed a product to help save you time while meeting student needs:
Summer School Theme Packs.
Summer school Theme Packs are a series of comprehensive curriculum plans
and tools created to deliver skill-based,
differentiated instruction
that can be adapted to any summer school setting.
Lesson plans are organized into 5-day sessions
and center around a specific theme and comprehension skill.
Students will learn or review the skill
and apply it throughout the week
as they read various books and passages.
Each week is independent of the next,
allowing teachers the flexibility to teach lessons
in any order based on student needs.
In addition to the central theme and target comprehension skill,
content in each week’s lessons
revolves around a Key Question related to the theme.
During the week, students will formulate a response to the Key Question
as they participate in collaborative
and differentiated learning.
Students will work in whole group, small groups,
and independently to gather evidence
to support their response to the Key Question
On Day 5, students will respond to the Key Question,
collecting each week’s responses and learning
in a special Passport Binder
Every weekly lesson lists all of the materials
needed for the week’s plans.
These materials are organized for download together on site
in one place for each week,
minimizing preparation time.
The tasks and instruction in the Summer School Theme Packs
follow a specific sequence to best foster student growth
and in-depth understanding.
Each day of a summer school lesson
is organized around a whole-group activity,
followed by a small-group or independent activity,
and wrapped up with another whole-group activity.
This plan allows the teacher to reach all learners every day
and maximizes learning time.
In grades 1-5, students practice grammar and mechanics skills
using Write Rights from Writing A-Z.
Students listen to leveled books and passages
during read out loud activities for modeling of fluency, critical thinking,
and answering text-dependent questions
around a central theme.
In grades 1-3, intensive instruction of the week’s skill is introduced,
modeled, practiced, and assessed,
using the Reading A-Z Comprehension Skill Packs.
In grades 4-5, students also have an opportunity
for differentiated instruction
through practice with the week’s target skill
using leveled books and games.
Lessons for grades 4-5 follow a similar structure,
with one major difference.
At this grade level, Close Reading Packs are used to model critical thinking
and to promote collaborative learning.
Students will work to apply the week’s comprehension target skill
while analyzing text independently and collaboratively
to find evidence to support their answer to the Key Question.
Each day concludes with a whole-group activity
to further tie in the week’s skill,
provide students with cyclical skill review,
and allow students to gather additional evidence
to answer the week’s overarching Key Question.
Throughout the week’s instruction, multiple
and varied opportunities are built in
to help you monitor student progress of elements
covered during the instruction.
On Day 1, optional time is set aside to assess students’ reading level
using Benchmark passages.
Later in the week, formal assessments are incorporated
to reflect student understanding of the target comprehension skill,
using graphic organizers, identifying pertinent information within texts,
responding to the week’s Key Question,
and comprehension quizzes for the leveled reading books.
This variety of ongoing assessment
will help to ensure students’ growth and understanding.
We understand the important role summer school
plays in helping kids achieve success.
Our Summer School Theme Packs
are deigned to effectively teach key reading comprehension skills
with engaging weekly themes that prompt interest, collaboration,
and in-depth understanding of content.