ELA D Learning Coach Guide

Part A:
Welcome to English
Language Arts D!

Welcome Letter

Dear Learning Coach, 

Thank you for partnering with CCA and investing in your learner’s education. This Learning Coach Guide is intended to help you support your learner in their English Language Arts D course. 

Within this guide, you will find the goals, components, and features of the online course. Please take time to read and review this information so you understand how to help your learner interact with all the course’s elements. 

The Learning Coach Guide also includes information about each of the units in this course. On each page of unit information, you will discover the following.  

• The Unit Overview will tell you what the focus, content, and skills of the unit will be.  
• The Unit Assessment section is a place for you and your learner to preview the graded work in the course. At the start of each unit, work with your learner to look at the unit in edio and find out which types of graded work are in this unit. Write them in the box and use it as a checklist. You can check off each one as your learner completes it. 
• The Unit Materials section tells you the materials your learner will need to complete the activities in this unit. You will also find the materials list repeated within each lesson so that your learner has exactly what they need at the right time. 
• The Unit Discussion Questions are optional questions that you may want to ask your learner during the unit to increase home and school connections about what your learner is studying.   
• In the Unit Notables section, you may find optional activities, literature connections, career connections, technology tips, ideas to help your learner if they get stuck, or safety tips.

CCA wishes you and your learner a terrific school year! 

Supporting Your Learner

Your role as a Learning Coach is very important. Here are a few ways you can help your learner do their very best in the course.

• Help your learner know what time guided or live class instruction is scheduled for, and prompt them to attend sessions or watch recordings.
• Look for Learning Coach Notes in the course. These are special messages to provide you with information about an activity or topic.
• Remember, it is okay for your learner to get stuck. Learning new material takes time. Encourage them to take breaks, keep trying, and even ask the teacher for help.
• Help your learner navigate technology. That may mean helping them type information or upload work into edio.
• Always encourage your learner to do their very best.
• Review the course syllabus for your learner’s course.
• Maintain communication with your learner’s teacher.

Part B:
Course Information

Course Goals

In English Language Arts D, your learner will use the foundations they learned in previous course to read fluently and with expression, read to learn, and write in paragraphs. By the end of the year, your learner will be able to:

• spell and read words with long and short vowel sounds;
• spell and read words with two- and three-letter vowels and consonants such as -ck and -tch;
• spell and read words with endings such as -ed, -ing and suffixes like -s and -es;
• use strategies and context clues to understand unknown words;
• identify the main idea and details in a story;
• describe characters’ thoughts, feelings and actions;
• make inferences in stories;
• identify and explain the central message in a story;
• use correct capitalization in writing;
• write types of sentences and understand sentence fragments;
• use correct punctuation and capitalization in writing; and
• write a narrative, informative, and opinion writing piece.

Course Format

Lesson Components:

Each day, your learner will spend approximately 90 minutes completing an English Language Arts lesson. Some days may take less time, while other days may take a little more time. The lesson does not need to be completed in one sitting. Encourage your learner to take short breaks as they need.

This section will help you to understand how your learner’s course is structured in edio.

See example below.

Lesson Bundling:

• Word Study: Word Study is intended to help your learner acquire foundational skills to help them learn to read and improve the fluency of their reading. This section will include the following items:  
• Phonemic Awareness: Learners will recognize, think about, and work with individual spoken sounds in words. 
• Phonics and Spelling: Phonics is the connection between printed letters and sounds. Learners will understand the organized and predictable relationship between written letters and the sounds they stand for. 
• Reading: During the reading portion of the lesson, learners will explore fiction and nonfiction texts and work on comprehension strategies. The following strategies will be emphasized: 
• Vocabulary: Learners will preview key vocabulary words. After reading, learners will take a closer look at how specific words are used in the text and practice applying the meanings of vocabulary words. 
• Read or Listen to the Text: Learners will read or listen to fiction or nonfiction text included in the lessons.  
• Close Read: Learners will take a closer look at the anchor text they read and answer questions to practice reading comprehension skills. 
• Reading Analysis: Learners will learn and practice grade-level reading skills. 
• Writing: Learners will learn and practice their writing skills by focusing on the writing process and developing short writing and longer-form writing. Learners will practice narrative, informational, and argumentative writing. 
• Conventions: Learners will be introduced to and will practice grade-appropriate grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. 
• Writing Instruction: Learners will be instructed on elements such as focus, style, and organization of different writing pieces. Learners will focus on three different genres: narrative, informative, and opinion writing. 
• Handwriting: Learners will practice handwriting letters, words, and sentences in cursive.
• Independent Writing Practice: Learners will take what they have learned in conventions and writing instruction mini-lessons to establish their own voice and style by authoring their own writing pieces. 
• On My Own: Learners will practice their reading skills by reading independently and completing personalized instruction in i-Ready. Learners will also practice their keyboarding skills by working on activities in Keyboarding Without Tears.

Within the lesson bundles, there are different components your learner will interact with. These components will not be used every day.

1. Getting Started Lesson: There is one Getting Started lesson in this course. It can be found on Day 1 of Unit 1. This lesson includes important information about the course and contact information for your teacher.

2. Unit Overview: Each unit will include a unit overview. This describes what your learner will learn in the unit and how many assessments the unit will have.

3. Prep for Success: At the beginning of each unit, your learner will find a Prep for Success. This component offers learners tips to be successful in the course, such as study tips, important software information, safety reminders, and more.

4. Knowledge Check: There will be one Knowledge Check in each unit. The Knowledge Check is designed to check prior learning and understanding about key skills and concepts that will be taught in the unit. The Knowledge Check is not a graded assessment.

Each lesson has its own components to help guide your learner through the lesson.

1. Lesson Overview: At the beginning of every lesson, your learner will see the lesson overview. This section contains lesson objectives, lesson vocabulary, materials your learner will need for the lesson, and the suggested lesson length.

2. Engage: The first section of the lesson is Engage. In this section, learners will be introduced to the lesson by making a connection to past and present knowledge and will get ready for the lesson’s instruction.

3. Discover: New content and instruction is presented in the Discover section. Your learner will interact with the lesson content through defined vocabulary terms, videos, audio, and Pause and Think activities. Your learner will be able to practice and answer questions as they work through the lesson.

4. Show: Learners will demonstrate what they have learned in the lesson through a series of practice questions.

5. Wrap Up: This section recaps the day’s objectives and prepares learners for a future lesson or assessment.

The course includes assignments and projects. These graded assignments allow your learner to show what they have learned and apply their new skills. All CCA assignments and projects include these components.

1. Assessment Overview: At the beginning of each assessment, your learner will see the assessment overview. This section contains the goals of the assessment, materials your learner will need, length of the assessment, and directions for completion.

2. Plan: In the Plan section, learners will be introduced to the assignment or project. Learners may be provided with a review of content from the previous lessons, strategies for completing the activity, graphic organizers, and grading rubrics.

3. Do: Learners put their plan into action and work to complete the assignment or project successfully. This section also provides the grading expectations and/or rubric the teacher will use to grade the work.

4. Reflect: In Reflect, learners will think back to the work they completed. They will reflect upon the experience and analyze how well they completed the task. These moments of reflection are important and allow learners to think about their learning and their work habits.

In addition to assignments and projects, this course also includes quizzes, tests, and exams.

• Quiz: A quiz may be given at the end of a topic or the end of a unit.
• Unit Review: Before a test, learners will have the opportunity to review the content they will be assessed on in the test.
• Unit Test: A test will assess learning at the end of a unit.

Course Features

This course includes and uses unique features such as:

English Language Arts Kit: Learners will receive a kit that includes activity books, texts required for lessons, and other materials needed for learning English language arts skills. 

English Language Arts Activity Books: Learners will receive the following activity books that will be used throughout the course: Word Study Activity Book, Reading Activity Book, and Writing Activity Book. Each activity book includes pages to be completed during lessons. The activity books also include additional resources to help learners better understand the content and skills. 

Writer’s Notebook: Learners will have access to a Writer’s Notebook as part of the Writing Activity Book. This includes important writing strategies, additional resources, and guidance to support what they are learning in their lessons. 

Writing Projects: Learners will complete different writing projects in this course. They will use grammar skills and writing skills learned throughout the course in their writing projects.

Free Write Submissions: Throughout the course, learners will have the opportunity to engage in writing activities of their own choice and submit these free writes.

Anchor Texts: Learners will receive a collection of fiction and nonfiction texts. These are referred to as anchor texts. These reading resources will be used to develop reading, listening, and comprehension skills.  

Practice Readers: Learners will receive a collection of practice reader texts. These are decodable texts. These reading resources come in Set 1, Set 2, and Set 3.

Daily Grammar: Learners will have Daily Grammar activities in their writing lessons. They will complete these pages to practice grammar skills in lessons.

On My Own: This is a part of lesson bundles. Learners will be prompted to do one independent activity each day. The activities will range from independent reading, typing practice, using Raz-Kids, or i-Ready practice.

i-Ready: This is an online program that helps learners practice and develop their reading, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. The program provides personalized instruction tailored to the learner’s needs and skill levels. Learners should expect to work in i-Ready for 45 minutes each week. 

Keyboarding Without Tears: This online program helps learners practice and develop their keyboarding skills. The program features a variety of typing games and exercises to teach basic keyboarding skills. 

Integrated with Science and Social Studies: Learners will read a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts that closely align with science and social studies concepts. The topics read in the texts will be reinforced in the science and social studies courses.

edioReader : Learners can interact with digital texts through edioReader, an eReader application. Embedded directly in the lesson content, edioReader allows learners to read or listen to digital texts. Learners will be able to interact with each text by using features such as a key word search, zoom in to increase the font size, take and store notes, highlight the pages, and bookmark their spot in the text. 

Part C:
Unit Information

Welcome to ELA/Digital Citizenship

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read, write, and spell with two-letter consonants, three-letter consonants, and suffixes. They will create an anti-bullying poster. They will be able to characterize good personal qualities. Also, they will identify and use the writing process. Finally, your learner will write and publish a final draft of a paragraph.

Unit Assessments

Quiz_________________________

Test_________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

Which type of writing do you think will be easiest for you to write?

How will you protect your personal information?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will create an anti-bullying poster.

Kit Materials

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read, write, and spell with two-letter consonants, three-letter consonants, and suffixes. They will create an anti-bullying poster. They will be able to characterize good personal qualities. Also, they will identify and use the writing process. Finally, your learner will write and publish a final draft of a paragraph.

Unit Assessments

Quiz_________________________

Test_________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

Which type of writing do you think will be easiest for you to write?

How will you protect your personal information?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will create an anti-bullying poster.

Kit Materials

Household Materials

none

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, construction paper, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, glue stick, magnetic counters, magnetic letter tiles, Practice Text Collection, Set 1, ruler, ten-frame whiteboard, whiteboard

Government at Work

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read, spell, and write words with the contraction “not.” They will describe character traits and will use details to summarize a story. Your learner will use their knowledge of branches of government to complete a writing assignment and will write a response to reading.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What strategies have you learned for previewing a story?

Why is it important to do your best to read fluently?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will learn an acronym for coordinating conjunctions. FANBOYS stands for the following coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, glue, Practice Text Collection Set 1, scissors, sticky notes, whiteboard

Household Materials

blank paper, stopwatch

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read, spell, and write words with the contraction “not.” They will describe character traits and will use details to summarize a story. Your learner will use their knowledge of branches of government to complete a writing assignment and will write a response to reading.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What strategies have you learned for previewing a story?

Why is it important to do your best to read fluently?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will learn an acronym for coordinating conjunctions. FANBOYS stands for the following coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, glue, Practice Text Collection Set 1, scissors, sticky notes, whiteboard

Household Materials

blank paper, stopwatch

Motion All Around You

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read and spell words with silent e. Learners will use the word endings –ing and –ed. They will explore the RACES strategy to answer questions from a story. Your learner will use details from the story to retell. Also, they will develop a rough draft and then revise and edit a narrative writing piece.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How would you change the ending of your favorite story?

What made you feel excited during this unit?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will practice reading fluently. To support your learner with building fluency, ask your learner to reread a familiar passage to you or listen to an audiobook while your learner follows along with the text on the page.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, glue, magnetic counters, Practice Text Collection Sets 1 and 2, ten-frame whiteboard, scissors, sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read and spell words with silent e. Learners will use the word endings –ing and –ed. They will explore the RACES strategy to answer questions from a story. Your learner will use details from the story to retell. Also, they will develop a rough draft and then revise and edit a narrative writing piece.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How would you change the ending of your favorite story?

What made you feel excited during this unit?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will practice reading fluently. To support your learner with building fluency, ask your learner to reread a familiar passage to you or listen to an audiobook while your learner follows along with the text on the page.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, glue, magnetic counters, Practice Text Collection Sets 1 and 2, ten-frame whiteboard, scissors, sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Land Interactions

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read and spell words with the long ‘o’ vowel sound and the long ‘e’ vowel sound. They will look for the central message in stories and use cause and effect to see how a character responds to the major events in a story. They will write a rough draft, revise and edit it and submit an opinion piece.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What examples can you give of irregular past tense verbs? What makes them irregular?

How does using context clues help you understand a story better?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will revisit capitalization. If your learner struggles with recalling words to be capitalized, offer them the acronym MINTS.

M—months, days, holidays;

I—the pronoun I;

N—names of people, places;

T—titles of books, movies; and

S—start of sentences.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, magnetic counters, Practice Text Collection Set 2, whiteboard

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read and spell words with the long ‘o’ vowel sound and the long ‘e’ vowel sound. They will look for the central message in stories and use cause and effect to see how a character responds to the major events in a story. They will write a rough draft, revise and edit it and submit an opinion piece.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What examples can you give of irregular past tense verbs? What makes them irregular?

How does using context clues help you understand a story better?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will revisit capitalization. If your learner struggles with recalling words to be capitalized, offer them the acronym MINTS.

M—months, days, holidays;

I—the pronoun I;

N—names of people, places;

T—titles of books, movies; and

S—start of sentences.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, magnetic counters, Practice Text Collection Set 2, whiteboard

Household Materials

none

Exploring Living Things

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn to read and spell words with the long vowel sounds ‘a‘ and ‘u.’ They will also practice reading and spelling compound words. Your learner will analyze how a character develops throughout a story and will be able to summarize a nonfiction text. Finally, they will create a timeline of events from their own life.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What can you learn about through reading?

Why is it a valuable tool to learn how to sequence events?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will read about animal life cycles. They will use the information they learned to produce a written piece about animal life cycles.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, magnetic counters, Practice Text Collection Set 2, sticky notes, whiteboard

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn to read and spell words with the long vowel sounds ‘a‘ and ‘u.’ They will also practice reading and spelling compound words. Your learner will analyze how a character develops throughout a story and will be able to summarize a nonfiction text. Finally, they will create a timeline of events from their own life.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What can you learn about through reading?

Why is it a valuable tool to learn how to sequence events?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will read about animal life cycles. They will use the information they learned to produce a written piece about animal life cycles.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, magnetic counters, Practice Text Collection Set 2, sticky notes, whiteboard

Household Materials

none

Making Economic Choices

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read and spell words with silent letters, such as kn and gn. They will identify the main idea of a passage and learn how the details of a story support the central message. Your learner will create a Chinese paper lantern. Also, they will write a rough draft, and then revise and edit, and submit an informational writing piece.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How does using dialogue affect a story?

Why is it important to reflect on your reading or learning?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will have the opportunity to do a shared reading with you.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, glue stick, highlighter, magnetic counters, Practice Text Collection Sets 2 and 3, scissors, spiral notebook, whiteboard

Household Materials

blank paper, mirror

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will read and spell words with silent letters, such as kn and gn. They will identify the main idea of a passage and learn how the details of a story support the central message. Your learner will create a Chinese paper lantern. Also, they will write a rough draft, and then revise and edit, and submit an informational writing piece.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How does using dialogue affect a story?

Why is it important to reflect on your reading or learning?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will have the opportunity to do a shared reading with you.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, glue stick, highlighter, magnetic counters, Practice Text Collection Sets 2 and 3, scissors, spiral notebook, whiteboard

Household Materials

blank paper, mirror

Weather Matters

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn to read and spell common homophones. They will also be introduced to words with Latin roots. Additionally, they will practice asking and answering questions using evidence from the story, making inferences, using a Venn diagram to compare and contrast three topics, and using details in writing.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What is something new you learned in this unit?

What can you do to improve your writing?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will research facts about a specific climate. They will create a brochure.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, highlighter, Practice Text Collection Set 3, spiral notebook, sticky notes, whiteboard

Household Materials

blank paper

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn to read and spell common homophones. They will also be introduced to words with Latin roots. Additionally, they will practice asking and answering questions using evidence from the story, making inferences, using a Venn diagram to compare and contrast three topics, and using details in writing.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What is something new you learned in this unit?

What can you do to improve your writing?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will research facts about a specific climate. They will create a brochure.

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, coloring tools, dot cube, dry erase marker, ELA Activity Books, eraser, highlighter, Practice Text Collection Set 3, spiral notebook, sticky notes, whiteboard

Household Materials

blank paper

Historical Moments

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will engage in reading with fluency and expression. They will read and write words with suffixes and understand how a suffix changes the meaning of a word.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

Unit Notables

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, ELA Activity Books, eraser, Practice Text Collection Set 3

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will engage in reading with fluency and expression. They will read and write words with suffixes and understand how a suffix changes the meaning of a word.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

Unit Notables

Kit Materials

Anchor Texts, ELA Activity Books, eraser, Practice Text Collection Set 3

Household Materials

none