Kindergarten Report Overview

The Really Great Reading materials, Countdown, partially meet the expectations for alignment to standards and research-based practices for foundational skills instruction and partially meet expectations for implementation, support materials, and assessment. Materials contain a defined sequence and explicit instruction for all 26 uppercase and lowercase letters. Materials have limited opportunities for students to practice letter identification and print concepts. Materials have explicit instruction in phonological awareness. For most standards, students have ample practice in phonological awareness. Materials contain explicit, systematic instruction in decoding and encoding phonics skills. Materials have student opportunities for decoding and encoding words in isolation and connected tasks. Materials do not have opportunities for distinguishing between similarly spelled words by identifying the sounds of the graphemes that differ. Materials contain explicit instruction in high-frequency words and word analysis skills. Materials allow students to read and write high-frequency words in isolation and connected text. Materials provide decoding opportunities for students to practice automaticity and accuracy. Materials contain a well-defined teacher’s manual with instructional routines and adult-level explanations. Materials contain lessons for a school year. However, Units 1-16 only have 15 minutes of instruction. Materials contain a clear, cohesive hierarchy for phonological awareness skills. Materials contain a scope and sequence for phonics with a general research-based explanation. Materials contain decodable passages aligned to the phonics’ scope and sequence. Materials contain decodable passages, which do not align with the scope and sequence of the high-frequency words. Materials have assessment opportunities for some foundational literacy skills, such as phonological awareness and phonics. Materials contain documentation of alignment to Common Core State Standards. Materials contain some resources to support multilingual learners. Materials contain options for differentiation within lessons. Materials contain challenge options and additional units for students who need extensions. Materials contain digital materials compatible with many platforms and operating systems. Some materials can be personalized and customized.