Grade 6 Curriculum Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction / 1
Platform Overview / 2
Research / 4
Teaching Key Skills & Concepts / 5
ELA Curriculum Guide / 6
Science, Social Studies, and Math / 15
Supports for Developing Bilinguals / 16
Results / 18
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Introduction
About ThinkCERCA
What is ThinkCERCA?
ThinkCERCA’s personalized literacy platform helps educators teach critical thinking skills through
argumentative writing. Through standards-aligned close reading and academic writing lessons for
English language arts, science, social studies, and math, our schoolwide approach to literacy
instruction prepares students in grades 4-12 for post-secondary life by building up their analytical skills
in every subject.
Practical Approach, Expert Pedagogy
The designers of ThinkCERCA have authored more than 30 publications on cross-curricular critical
literacy.
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1
Platform Overview
The ThinkCERCA Platform
Schoolwide Literacy Instruction
The CERCA Framework gives teams a common literacy language to collaborate more effectively across
content areas and improve student outcomes.
Close Reading
Our platform includes a lesson library of relevant, leveled texts and tasks that build students’ disciplinespecific knowledge while making close reading engaging and fun.
• Standards-aligned, discipline-specific highlighting and summarizing practice
• In-text vocabulary and audio support
• Automated assessments for comprehension
Writing Across Content Areas
Scaffolded lessons walk students through the process of using evidence and details to support their
argumentative, informational, and narrative writings across disciplines. • Interactive Argument Builder; prewriting tools for narrative and informational writing
• Rigorous writing prompts focused on debatable issues and great literary models
• Standards-aligned sentence frames and supports for English language development
Differentiation
We make personalization simple with theme-based text sets that are differentiated for 10 levels of
readiness and built-in tools that keep teachers at the center of instruction.
• Embedded differentiation tools to auto-assign by readiness level
• Leveling pre-assessments for reading and writing
• Real-time data to monitor student progress [email protected] / (708) 79-CERCA
2
Platform Overview
Standards-Aligned Instruction
Our instructional designs were developed based on the research and practice of master teachers and
nationally recognized literacy experts and meet the demands of new career and college readiness
standards.
• Introductions to standards-aligned key skills and concepts
• Standards-aligned formative assessments and rubrics
Assessment Preparation
Research shows that frequent practice of CERCA increases test scores while building critical thinking
skills. ThinkCERCA’s formative and summative assessments allow teachers to infuse practice with
items found in new state assessments, including PARCC, Smarter Balanced, and ACT, as well as the
new SAT and growth assessments such as NWEA.
• Development of analytical and synthesizing skills
• Practice of providing supporting evidence with discipline-specific language instruction
• Creation of constructed responses to text-based questions
Why Argumentation?
ThinkCERCA prepares students for new standards and state assessments by providing a scaffolded
process that supports the development of argumentation skills.
“The Standards put particular emphasis on the students’ ability to write sound
arguments on substantive topics and issues, as the ability is critical to career and
college readiness.” — CCSS Appendix A
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3
Research
Our Research-Based Approach
Summary
ThinkCERCA was built upon an ever-growing body of research as well as years of practice and
continuous learning. The research behind our approach has been drawn from a number of sources.
Here, we highlight an influential University of Chicago study that clearly illustrates the importance of
writing and discussion in improving student achievement. While traditional models have positioned
technology as the teacher, we position technology as a support for great teaching and collaboration
with peers. The relationship with teachers and peers is what helps to create a context for true
personalized learning and motivate students to persist through challenges.
From High School to the Future: ACT Preparation—Too Much, Too Late (2008)
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4
Teaching Key Skills and Concepts
Direct Instruction to Introduce Key Skills and Concepts
Example ThinkCERCA Direct Instruction Lessons
Direct Instruction Lesson: Why Do We Make Arguments?
In this lesson students will learn about the
importance of making effective arguments in
school, in their careers, and in life.
Direct Instruction Lesson: Developing Effective Paragraphs
In this lesson students will learn about different
types of writing and how to develop effective
paragraphs for each type. They will learn about how
to create a strong topic sentence and support that
topic sentence with cohesive organization and clear
transitions.
Direct Instruction Lesson: Making Arguments about Connections within a
Text
In this lesson, students will learn some effective
techniques to make connections within a text:
allusions, analogies, repetition, parallel structure,
and anecdotes.
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5
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
1
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
School Policy
RI.2, W1
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Yes to Uniforms: A Student’s View” — Do school uniforms
empower students in ways that help them learn?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Appeals Court Finds Nevada School’s Uniform Policy
Unconstitutional”
SKILLS FOCUS
Summary
CERCA SET
Video Games
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“The Violent Side of Video Games” — Is it dangerous for individuals
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Students Get Lessons in Character Building”
SKILLS FOCUS
Developing Effective Paragraphs
CERCA SET
Government’s Role in Health
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Big Drinks: In or Out?” — Should the government ban large, sugary
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Rebuilding the Food Pyramid”
SKILLS FOCUS
Claims
CERCA SET
Social Media
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“The Laws of Facebook” — Should children under the age of thirteen
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“ACLU Wins Settlement for Sixth Grader’s Facebook Posting”
SKILLS FOCUS
Evidence
CERCA SET
Sports & Society
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Are Sports Really for Everybody?” — Should children be required to
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“The Great Ice-Skating Competition!”
SKILLS FOCUS
Reasoning
2
3
4
5
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READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.8, W1
and society when children play violent video games?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.8, W1
drinks?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
use social media sites like Facebook?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
learn and play at least one sport?
6
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
The Role of Machines
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
"A Double-Edged Sword: The Automation of the Factory” — Do
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“It’s the Nanorevolution!”
SKILLS FOCUS
Counterargument
CERCA SET
Distracted Driving
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Could Driverless Cars Solve Distracted Driving?” — Are driverless
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Distracted Driving”
SKILLS FOCUS
Audience
CERCA SET
Personal Identity
6
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
RI.2, W1
the benefits of factory automation outweigh the disadvantages?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
7
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
8
cars the solution to distracted driving?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.2, W1
“Get Real” — Should more people be petitioning magazines and
advertisers to show only real and healthy images of teen girls and young
women?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“‘Am I Pretty or Ugly’ Videos a Symptom of Toxic Media Culture”
SKILLS FOCUS
Organizing Your Argument
CERCA SET
Genetics
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
9
ideas about the effects of genes and environment on a person’s pace of
developing skills and talents?
“Friendship Secrets”
SKILLS FOCUS
Connections Within a Text
CERCA SET
Family and Influence
10
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.2, W1
Multiday Short Fiction: “Red Velvet Dress” — What does Lena's
choice to wear the red dress suggest about her understanding of how to
live in a diverse society?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“The Harlem Renaissance”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme
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RI.3, W1
“What’s a Whiz Kid, Anyway?” — How does the author develop her
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
7
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
Group Decision-making
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“The Human Hive” — Is the author’s use of animal examples effective
11
in illustrating how groupthink could benefit human decision making?
“Calling Someone Fat Names Can Make Them Eat More,
Researchers Say”
SKILLS FOCUS
Connections Within a Text (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Bullying
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Bullying: What We Can Do” — Does the author present effective
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Hooliganism: The Dark Side of Soccer”
SKILLS FOCUS
Author’s Purpose
CERCA SET
Conflict and Dominance
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
13
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.6, W1
advice about how to combat bullying?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.3, W1
"Priscilla and the Wimps” — Were Priscilla’s actions at the end of the
story justified?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Calling Someone Fat Names Can Make Them Eat More,
Researchers Say"
SKILLS FOCUS
Point of View
CERCA SET
Overcoming Obstacles
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
RI.5, W1
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
12
Optional Narrative Writing Prompt >>
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.3, W3
Multiday Writing: "Priscilla and the Wimps” — Write a personal
narrative that describes a time when you or someone you know did
something unexpected.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“A Tale of Two Brothers”
SKILLS FOCUS
Characters
CERCA SET
Nonverbal Communication
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Why Sketch?” — How does the author convince readers that
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Live Wires”
SKILLS FOCUS
Informational and Explanatory Writing
14
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READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.3, W1
sketching is a better method of note-taking than cameras?
8
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
CERCA SET
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
15
Communities
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.4, W1
Poetry: “The Base Stealer” — Based on the facts of the poem, all the
facts of the poem, and nothing but the facts of the poem, does the poet
want us to believe that the base stealer ultimately made it home?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
"A Poem of the People”
SKILLS FOCUS
Elements of Language
CERCA SET
21st Century Learning
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Banning Cell Phones in Schools: Pros and Cons” — Would
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Off to Blab School”
SKILLS FOCUS
Central Ideas
CERCA SET
Image & Impact
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“69 Years Ago, A Relatively-Unknown Photographer Captured
the Most Iconic Photo of WWII.” — How does this image add to the
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
"Was He Good or Bad?”
SKILLS FOCUS
Text Features
CERCA SET
Risk-Taking
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Aliens? Or Just Wired to be Weird?” — How does teen brain
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Attempts at Flight before the Wright Brothers”
SKILLS FOCUS
Central Ideas (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Character and Risk
16
17
18
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
19
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
banning phones in schools support or limit students' learning?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.7, W1
reader’s understanding of a powerful moment in World War II?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.2, W1
development cause physical, behavioral, and emotional change?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.9, W1
Multiday Short Fiction: “How Ioscoda and His Friends Met the
White Men from the East and Journeyed Across the Great Waters
and Friends Outside the Walls” — How do the stories of Ioscoda and
Missy illustrate the importance of taking risks?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“The Myth of Paul Revere’s Ride”
SKILLS FOCUS
Ideas Across Texts
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9
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
CERCA SET
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
20
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.3, W1
“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” — How was William
Kamkwamba, a teenager in small village, able to build a windmill to
change his own life and life for his village?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“An Unlikely Plant Could Fuel Africa's Economic Engine”
SKILLS FOCUS
Connections Within a Text (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Social Responsibility
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
21
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.9, W1
“JFK and the Space Race” & “50 Years Ago Today, JFK
Explained Why ‘We Choose to Go to the Moon’” — How do the
details in the first article affect a reader's understanding of the inspiring
speech quoted in the second article?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Ethics Report Could Help NASA Weigh Risks of Long-Term
Space Travel”
SKILLS FOCUS
Author’s Purpose (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Conflict and Character
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
22
Optional Narrative Writing Prompt >>
Perseverance
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.6, W1
Multiday Short Fiction: “Rikki-tikki-tavi” — How does the narrator’s
point of view influence the reader’s interpretation of the conflict between
Rikki-tikki-tavi and Nag?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Was He Good or Bad?”
SKILLS FOCUS
Characters (spiraled)
CERCA SET
The Best Laid Plans
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
Multiday Writing: “Rikki-tikki-tavi" — Write a personal narrative about
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Naomi Shihab Nye and the Power of Stories"
SKILLS FOCUS
Plot
CERCA SET
Civil War Poetry
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
23
RL.3, W3
someone you know who acted in a heroic or brave way. READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.2, W1
Poetry: “Shiloh: A Requiem” — What do the sounds and images in
Melville's poem tell us about his feelings toward war?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Thomas Garrett”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme (spiraled)
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READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
10
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
Humor
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“A Shared Emotion” — How do the author's technical word choices
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Mark Twain”
SKILLS FOCUS
Words and Details
CERCA SET
Technology & Impact
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Tweet, Post, Share! How You Are Changing Politics” How have
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Barrier and Obstacles”
SKILLS FOCUS
Central Ideas (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Technology and Art
24
25
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
26
contribute to the reader's understanding of the author's claim?
Format
CERCA SET
Endangered Animals
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
finding ways to protect wildlife species help them or just complicate the
problem further?
“Beetle Attack!”
SKILLS FOCUS
Words and Details (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Nature Poetry
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.2, W1
“When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” — How do you interpret
Whitman’s poem exploring whether it is better to experience nature with
our heads or with our hearts?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Showdown at Separation Point”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme (spiraled)
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RL.7, W1
“A Small Bird with Big Problems” — Based on the article, does
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
28
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
difference between what you could "see" and "hear" while listening to
the recording of the poem versus reading it?
SKILLS FOCUS
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
RI.2, W1
“Poetry: The Charge of the Light Brigade” — What is the greatest
“Your Brain on Movies”
27
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
online tools and social media influenced politics?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
RI.4, W1
11
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
Cultural Perception
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“The Danger of a Single Story and Teaching Kids to Avoid
Stereotypes” — Do cultural stereotypes create sympathy rather than
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Don’t Go to Memphis”
SKILLS FOCUS
Words and Details (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Intellectual Property
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Volvo Gave Away Their Most Important Invention to Save
Lives”— Why is it noteworthy that Volvo didn't patent the seatbelt?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Showdown at Separation Point”
SKILLS FOCUS
Reasoning
CERCA SET
Family History
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“The New Middle Class Family” — Do the benefits of living in a
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Aborigines Today”
SKILLS FOCUS
Central Ideas (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Cultural Memoirs
29
30
31
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
RI.4, W1
empathy?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
RI.2, W1
multigenerational family outweigh the challenges?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.7, W2
“Ice” — What valuable lesson does the author learn from his stepfather?
32
Optional Narrative Writing Prompt >>
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Hero Cults”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Growing Up
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
Multiday Writing: “Ice” — Write a personal narrative about an event
that showed you something important about the kind of person you are.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Brazil: A Land of Beauty and Diversity”
SKILLS FOCUS
Writing Narratives
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RL.2, W3
12
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
Entrepreneurship
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“A High School Student Invented a Bath-Substituting Lotion That
Could Save Millions of People” — How does the author introduce
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Saving the World, One Bottle at a Time.”
SKILLS FOCUS
Organizing Your Argument (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Money and Decisions
33
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
34
and illustrate the invention of DryBath?
RL.2, W1
"The Million Pound Bank Note" show that money and status can shape
the way people treat others?
“Mark Twain”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Kid Inventors
35
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
"Excerpt from The Million Pound Bank Note” — How do the men in
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
RI.3, W1
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.5, W1
“Natick Researchers Mentor High School Robotics Team” — How
do the first five paragraphs of this article contribute to the reader's
understanding of the central idea?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Artificial Muscle Made of Fishing Line Is 100 Times Stronger
Than Yours”
SKILLS FOCUS
Structure and Organization
CERCA SET
Sounds in Poetry
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
36
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
“Poetry: Annabel Lee” — How does the poet use sound to convey the
beauty of his lost love?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“From the Land of Fairy Tales”
SKILLS FOCUS
Elements of Language (spiraled)
CERCA SET
Student Free Speech
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
37
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
“School Uniforms: A Threat to First Amendment Rights?” — Do
you agree with the courts or with the parents about school uniforms
violating students' First Amendment rights?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Mount Taylor”
SKILLS FOCUS
Reasoning (spiraled)
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RL.5, W1
13
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Example Scope & Sequence: Grade 6
38
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
Comparing Traditional Tales
RL.9, W1
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Short Line” and “John Henry” How do these traditional tales
glorify the characteristics of bravery and daring?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“900 Cinderellas"
SKILLS FOCUS
Ideas Across Texts (spiraled)
Integration of Longer Works with Recommended CERCA Sets
• Adventures of Tom Sawyer — Connections with Risk-taking, Humor, and Family History
• The Giver — Connections with The Role of Machines, Genetics, and Technology and Impact
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass — Connections with Social Responsibility, Perseverance,
and Cultural Perception
• Electric Ben — Connections with Intellectual Property, Entrepreneurship, and Kid Inventors
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14
Literacy Across the Curriculum
Cross-Curricular Literacy Lessons
The above scope and sequence are lessons from our ELA library only. We have lessons in science,
social studies, and math, as well. Below are examples.
Science: NGSS
Contributors to the Next Generation Science Standards,
master teachers, and administrators worked with our
team to develop our approach to differentiated science
literacy content. This debate-centric approach to science
mirrors items on new assessments that ask students to
evaluate peer-to-peer and scientist-to-scientist debates.
Social Studies: C3 Frameworks
We collaborated with key thought leaders, including the
designers of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State
Standards, as we developed our social studies content.
These leveled lessons—aligned to key topics across
geographical locations and time periods—allow teachers
to build discipline-specific background knowledge in a
vertical plan while engaging students who may be ahead
of or behind peers.
Math: Content & Practice
We collaborated with Professor Doug O’Roark, founder
of the Graduate Math and Science Teacher Certification
Program at University of Chicago and current head of
Math Circles Chicago, to design a unique, standardsaligned approach to differentiated math literacy content
that supports the expansion of mathematical knowledge
through its application in writing.
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15
English Language Development Supports
Supporting Developing Bilinguals
ThinkCERCA provides teachers with everything they need to support developing bilinguals in their
academic English fluency. In addition to research-based approaches embedded in the pedagogy of our
software, we provide direct instruction in standards-aligned practices that help developing bilinguals
succeed.
•
•
•
•
Supports for English language development in any classroom setting
Resources for students at a WIDA Level 3 and above
Research-based best practices for developing bilinguals
Online and offline tools and instructional practices, including speaking and listening activities
Full Supports List for Developing Bilinguals
Conventions of
Standard English
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
Personal
Connections
- Applied Reading and
Writing Lessons
ThinkCERCA’s Minilessons help students with conventions of standard
English usage, mechanics and grammar, and parts of speech. They also
provide instruction in discipline-specific, academic vocabulary across
subjects.
Each Applied Lesson provides an opportunity for students to connect
personally with the topics in the text. By encouraging collaboration and
peer-to-peer discussion, in a group, or even whole class, students engage
in meaningful discussions and high-interest topics that expose them to the
language they need to successfully navigate the world.
Tier 2 Vocabulary
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
Writing Lessons
Audio Support
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
Tier 2 vocabulary words with definitions are provided for pre-reading
support. Explicit instruction in academic vocabulary helps students access
content in disciplines.
All ThinkCERCA texts have audio support so students can listen to the text
while reading along. Student have the option of listening multiple times or
even listening to small sections of the text. Real human voices model fluent
and expressive English and allow students to access texts beyond their
independent English reading levels.
Writing Lessons
Non-Print Features
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
ThinkCERCA provides non-print features to support students in connecting
to background knowledge and developing new meaning. The strong visuals
in our Minilessons and the images embedded in our texts, including
infographics, multimedia, and video presentations, support learning for
everyone, including English language learners.
Writing Lessons
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16
English Language Development Supports
Full Supports List for Developing Bilinguals
Sentence Frames
- Applied Reading and
Writing Lessons
Blended Learning &
Small Groups
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
Sentence stems help students crack the code of college- and career-ready
English. By understanding the most common frames and practicing them,
students build confidence in their critical literacy skills.
ThinkCERCA provides a framework for teachers to incorporate into small
group instruction, independent collaboration, and individual personalized
instruction in a blended learning environment. In this dynamic
environment, students are given a variety of opportunities to engage with
language through listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Writing Lessons
Structure &
Language of Genre
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
ThinkCERCA exposes students to the language of various genres and
disciplines. The consistency of the text structures in the overview, summary,
sentence frames, and counterargument gives students repeated exposure
and familiarity with both structure and language.
Writing Lessons
Oral & Written
Language
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
Writing Lessons
Applied Reading &
Writing Lesson
Supports
- Applied Reading and
ThinkCERCA supports the critical relationship between oral and written
language by requiring students to discuss and negotiate complex issues
with multiple perspectives. Readings about debatable topics open up
opportunities for structured conversations in small groups, with partners
and as a whole class. Discussions require students to use accurate and
relevant text-based information to support claims and to explain their
reasons as well as reasoning. By toggling back and forth from text to
conversation, and finding evidence to support thinking, students increase
and deepen their understanding of the text at hand.
We have additional ELD lesson supports for our premium Applied Writing
Lessons. These supports provide extra scaffolding in order to help ELD
students access the same great content as their non-ELD peers
Writing Lessons
Culture
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Applied Reading and
Readings respect and honor the cultures of multiple groups and offer broad
representation of not only various cultures, but also discussions about
global issues.
Writing Lessons
[email protected] / (708) 79-CERCA
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English
Results Language Development Supports
Proven to Help Student Achieve Two Years of Academic Growth
Third-party efficacy data shows that students gain an average of 1.5 to 2.5 years of reading growth when
ThinkCERCA is implemented with fidelity. More information at www.thinkcerca.com/results.
LEAP Innovations Controlled Study
On average, students using ThinkCERCA gained an extra year's worth of academic growth. This is equivalent to closing the
achievement gap by 264 percent for low-income students, 456 percent for black students, and 749 percent for Latino students.
Read the full study at go.thinkcerca.com/leapstudy
Atlantic Research Partners Third-Party Study
Students in grade levels with significant use of ThinkCERCA outperformed their peers nationally on NWEA growth at different
attainment levels in the 2014-2015 academic school year. Read the full study at go.thinkcerca.com/arpstudy
SRI Education Controlled Study
Gains in student writing scores in the elementary grades were positive across all writing aspects and statistically significant for
five of the six aspects. Read the full study at go.thinkcerca.com/sristudy
[email protected] / (708) 79-CERCA
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