The Nashua School District adopted and implemented the Scott Foresman Reading Program during the 2003-2004 school year.  The comprehensive program consists of six universal themes across the grade levels.  Each theme has six stories at the first grade level and five stories in grades two through six.  Each anthology has accompanying leveled readers that enrich, extend, or exercise the skill of the week.   The stories are the tools we use to teach reading skills and strategies.  There is a wide range of assessments available to us during and at the end of each theme as the children prepare for formal evaluations. Writing throughout the program offer the students opportunities to author both informal and published pieces.

Scott Foresman bases its program on the latest research into reading. All children require practice and knowledge in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension to become competent readers.  These skills are taught, reviewed, and reinforced throughout the language arts block.  Classroom teachers enhance the program through individual initiatives such as Book-It, Buddies, and creative activities.  Reading is a part of every child’s school day.

In addition to the developed curriculum, New Searles students participate in school-wide activities such as Read for the Record, National Family Literacy Day, National Young Readers Day, National Day of Writing, National Grammar Day, and Read Across America.  The annual Literacy Family Picnic has become a popular event to promote family reading time.  On the first school day of each month reading logs are collected and reading minutes tallied to add to our goal of reading one million minutes.  Parents are encouraged to add their reading minutes to their child’s reading log.  The Reading Millionaires Club bulletin board in the lobby tracks our progress.  The New Searles Book Club offers an opportunity for students to read for pleasure and gather with their peers for discussion. 

Each morning students lead our morning exercises over the PA system and bring attention to our vocabulary words of the week. Each quarter students share a piece of their writing in a unique setting.  In June we celebrate our writing with an outdoor share of our favorite piece of writing with members of the New Searles community. 

      If you have any questions, please email Catherine Laliberte, our reading specialist,
by clicking on the smiling book.

Summer Reading Suggestions

        
Click on the pictures!