Units of Study

Name: Units of Study
Brand: Heinemann

by Heinemann

ElaGrades K–5

About This Curriculum

A comprehensive reading and writing workshop curriculum developed by Lucy Calkins and Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. The K-5 series includes units in reading and writing organized around foundational skills, narrative, informational, and opinion/argument writing.

What makes it unique: Workshop-based approach with embedded professional development; developed through decades of classroom research and collaboration with thousands of teachers

Units of Study: Workshop-Based Reading and Writing Curriculum

Units of Study is a comprehensive reading and writing workshop curriculum for grades K-5 developed by Lucy Calkins and Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. The curriculum organizes instruction around foundational skills, narrative, informational, and opinion/argument writing through a workshop model approach.

Best for

Teachers who prefer workshop-based approaches and want structured writing instruction across genres, though may need supplementation for phonics and knowledge-building

Evaluation Criteria

1 strength · 3 concerns · 1 neutral · 4 insufficient evidence

Writing InstructionStrength

The curriculum provides structured writing instruction across multiple genres through workshop model.

Includes units specifically organized around narrative, informational, and opinion/argument writing, suggesting systematic writing instruction

Text ComplexityConcern

The curriculum received negative ratings for text complexity and quality alignment.

EdReports specifically rated the curriculum 'Does Not Meet Expectations' for text quality and complexity alignment to grade-level demands

Direct InstructionConcern

The workshop model typically emphasizes student-centered approaches rather than direct, explicit instruction.

Workshop-based pedagogy generally favors guided discovery and student choice over systematic direct instruction methods

Whole Books Vs ExcerptsConcern

The curriculum appears to emphasize workshop approaches that may rely more on shorter texts and excerpts than sustained whole book reading.

EdReports rated the curriculum as 'Does Not Meet Expectations' for text quality and complexity alignment, suggesting potential issues with sustained text engagement

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum likely includes teacher support materials given its comprehensive nature and publisher reputation.

Developed by Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, suggesting professional development components, though specific training details not provided

Knowledge RichInsufficient Evidence

The curriculum does not appear to systematically build domain knowledge across subjects.

No evidence provided indicates systematic knowledge-building across history, science, or other domains; the workshop model typically focuses on skills over content knowledge

Retrieval PracticeInsufficient Evidence

No evidence of systematic retrieval practice or spaced review components.

No mention of quizzes, recall exercises, or systematic review practices in the curriculum description

Systematic PhonicsInsufficient Evidence

The curriculum includes foundational skills components but specific phonics instruction approach is unclear.

Description mentions 'foundational skills' units but provides no details about systematic phonics instruction methodology

Vocabulary BuildingInsufficient Evidence

Vocabulary instruction approach is not clearly specified in available materials.

No specific evidence provided about vocabulary building strategies or systematic word knowledge development

Sources: edreports.org, cathyduffyreviews.com