K-5 Reading Curriculum Pedagogy | Open Court Reading | McGraw Hill (2024)

Research-Based and Research-Validated

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Open Court Reading has been proven to achieve undeniable reading gains for readers ranging from beginners to those already fluent. Its research-validated success is:

• Demonstrated in classrooms across the country with diverse student populations.
• Validated by standardized test results.
• Field tested to reveal the effectiveness of its systematic, explicit instruction.

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Meets Top Tiers of ESSA Criteria​

Open Court Reading is recognized as highly effective by top third-party education experts including ESSA, which determined Tier 1 Evidence of effectiveness.

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Systematic, Explicit Instruction

What is Systematic, Explicit Instruction?

Reading is one of the most complex skills that we learn, and can be a struggle for ALL students. To make the process easier, Open Court Reading uses systematic, explicit instruction with a carefully designed instructional sequence and built-in scaffolding. It is explicit in that explanations are direct and clearly modeled, and students know exactly what they are learning.

The program is systematic in that it builds on prior learning, builds from simple to complex, and covers five components of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This instructional strategy is recognized for helping students grow into confident, independent readers who are ready to tackle any new content.

Instructional Design​​

Systematic, explicit instruction is clearly linked across five major areas of reading instruction―phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Open Court Reading begins with print and book awareness, along with the alphabetic principle and systematic introduction of sounds and letters. Once students can connect sounds to letters they can begin to learn decoding strategies, such as sound-by-sound blending, whole-word blending, multisyllable blending, and sentence blending. By practicing with the Pre-Decodable and Decodable Books, students increase their accuracy and rate and make the transition from decodable texts to authentic literature.​

Instructional Emphasis​

Systematic, explicit instruction helps build students' abilities through a logical progression of skills. The instructional emphasis chart shows what we teach and when we teach it. Within and among grade levels, skills are taught and reinforced within a spiraling curriculum. The overlapping pattern of skill-building allows teachers the opportunity to introduce new skills while simultaneously reinforcing those previously learned.

Sound/Spelling Cards

Open Court Reading pioneered the practice of explicit instruction in sound-spelling relationships and the development of unique Sound/Spelling Cards. Each card represents a common English sound and contains the most common spelling or spellings of that sound, as well as a picture that helps students recall the sound. The consonant cards have the target sound at the beginning of the card names. Target sound for short vowels are found in the medial position. Each sound and picture is linked through an alliterative story that accompanies each card.

Foundational Skills Kits equip all students with a strong foundation for lifelong reading, helping students understand how individual sounds work together to create spoken language. These tools strengthen phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency skills—allowing learners to master more sophisticated skills.

Word Analysis Kits take students from foundational skills to the application of these skills as they encounter new vocabulary, more complex texts, and more sophisticated writing. When students encounter new words, they have the tools to break down them into smaller units and make meaning from them.

The English Language Development Kit helps English Learners acquire vital vocabulary and language skills. Students can participate meaningfully in the classroom and everyday life with differentiated instruction at four levels of proficiency: Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, and Early Advanced.

Resources to Support, Challenge, and Inspire

To achieve equity in the classroom, some learners need extra support to reach the same goal. In addition to the embedded strategies in the Teacher’s Editions, in both digital and print formats, Open Court Reading includes a variety of additional resources to give all students access to the same level of rigor and reading development as their peers, as well as challenge those who want to go further.

Embedded Strategies​​​

Lessons are divided into Foundational Skills, Reading and Responding, and Language Arts. Each part is supported by differentiated strategies for students at all levels of ability, as well as English language learners. Strategies for Differentiated Instruction and English Learner Tips are provided at point of use in the Teacher Edition, both print and digital.​

Workshop Time​

During whole-group instruction, all students have equal access to the same level of rigor. Workshop Time is when teachers can work with small groups of students to meet individual needs. During this time, they review or reteach concepts, or extend concepts for those who need the challenge. It can also be the perfect time to use resources from the English Language Development Kit to support your English learners.​

Assessment and Progress Monitoring​

Provide ongoing assessments, both formal and informal, to identify any gaps in student learning. Any number of resources available within the program can bridge these gaps.​

Intervention Teacher's Guide​

​Provide extra support and practice in the skills and strategies students have learned during whole-group instruction. Teachers may use it for small-group or individual instruction during Workshop Time.​

Supplemental Reading: Challenge Novels

Offer additional reading opportunities, with unique content designed around a central theme that relates to each of the six units in grade 2–5.​

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