Age 6-8 Reading

The curriculum uses appropriately complex texts for the grade level and prepares students for chapter books.

Uses quality literature like Arnold Lobel's books, aims to prepare students to 'read simple chapter books' by course completion, and moves 'at a faster pace than many other programs.'

The curriculum facilitates direct, explicit instruction with clear parental guidance and structured lessons.

Parent manuals tell parents 'what to say and do' with partially scripted instruction, includes 'Facts and Definitions' for each lesson, and provides structured day-by-day progression with clear learning objectives.

The curriculum incorporates regular review through digital quizzes and flashcard practice.

Includes Learning Gates with 'online quizzes that students will complete either two or three days per week' and flashcard practice with sight words and phonics elements.

The curriculum provides systematic instruction in challenging phonics elements for students who have mastered basic phonics.

Designed for students who can already read short-vowel and long-vowel words, it teaches 'more challenging elements of phonics' through structured weekly lessons with phonics rules and definitions included.

The curriculum includes explicit vocabulary instruction through multiple modalities.

Includes sets of sight word cards, theme word cards, and 'Facts and Definitions' sections in each lesson that teach vocabulary and phonics terminology like 'digraph.'

Writing instruction is embedded throughout the curriculum with composition and grammar components.

The curriculum includes composition and grammar instruction, with students frequently responding by 'writing words or sentences' especially in the second semester, plus a laminated writing sheet is included.

The curriculum strongly emphasizes whole books and complete texts rather than excerpts.

Includes complete books like 'Frog and Toad All Year' by Arnold Lobel, 'Mouse Soup' by Arnold Lobel, 'A Color of His Own' by Leo Lionni, and 15 illustrated readers, plus a shared reading book and poetry collection.

The curriculum appears to integrate content knowledge but focuses primarily on reading skills development.

While it includes themed materials and connects to other Moving Beyond the Page units that cover science and social studies, the Age 6-8 Reading curriculum itself centers on phonics and reading skill instruction.

The curriculum provides comprehensive parent guidance but limited professional development resources.

Parent manuals are described as 'the heart of the course' with detailed instructions, but no mention of formal teacher training or professional development beyond the instructional guides.