Being a Reader is a comprehensive reading program that provides instruction in all areas of reading. It includes some instructional elements that you will recognize from Making Meaning, including the structure of the read-aloud lessons and the integration of social skills development. Outside of those similarities, some of the key differences include:
- The program is organized into 7 individual units. Reading strategies, genres, and some thinking tools are introduced in the first two units. The remaining 5 units are organized by genre rather than strategy. In Making Meaning, the units were organized by strategy.
- The knowledge-building topics in the Reading lessons
- The Word Study strand for grades 2–5, which provides word-analysis instruction and a generative approach to vocabulary instruction
- The Book Clubs program for grades 3–5, which provides small-group reading instruction
- More pre-teaching, in-lesson, and extension activity support for English Learners
- More articles and digital media are included, as well as new read alouds
- Focus on reading fluency and close reading using excerpts from the read-aloud texts and other passages provided in the Student Response Book
- Genre-culmination activities at the end of each unit ask students to demonstrate what they have learned about the features of a genre
- Knowledge-building science and social studies topics in the reading lessons build across grades
For more information, this recorded webinar outlines what is new in Being a Reader (K–5).