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A seventh grade language arts program should be taught using a system of seventh grade reading lesson plans including interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments, and positive reinforcement. Guided reading is a vital part of a seventh grade language arts program.

And seventh grade language arts lessons should cover all English language arts strands. The major language arts strands for a seventh grade reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a seventh grade reading program.

Seventh grade reading lesson plans, reading worksheets, and reading activities teach reading skills covering all the language arts strands. Seventh grade reading activities provide an opportunity for students to describe and connect essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives by using a knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. These students learn through guided reading, reading worksheets, language arts games, and many creative methods that make the seventh grade reading program fun for them.

A seventh grade reading program includes vocabulary and concept development. Reading skill develops as students continue to learn with grade level appropriate reading material. Seventh grade reading program students describe and connect essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives found in various texts by using a knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. They apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent, seventh grade guided reading skill.

For example, the seventh grade reading program requires students to apply their knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical and literary context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to understand the precise meaning of grade level appropriate words. Language arts lesson plans help seventh grade reading skill students identify idioms, analogies, metaphors, and similes in prose and poetry.

The seventh grade reading level also requires them to use knowledge of Greek, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon roots and affixes to understand content-area vocabulary. In seventh grade students clarify word meanings through the use of definition, example, restatement, or contrast. When reading they should assess the adequacy, accuracy, and appropriateness of an author’s evidence to support claims and assertions, noting instances of bias and stereotyping.

A seventh grade reading program includes language arts lesson plans that help children learn about the structural features of informational materials. For example, they are expected to understand and analyze differences in structure and purpose between various categories of informational materials including textbooks, newspapers, instructional manuals, and signs. They learn to locate information by using a variety of consumer, workplace, and public documents, and analyze text that uses the cause-and-effect organizational pattern.

The seventh grade reading level is tested with reading skill comprehension strategies and analysis of reading skill level appropriate text. Seventh grade students identify and trace the development of an author’s argument, point of view, or perspective in text. After doing this, they will understand and explain the use of simple mechanical devices by following technical directions.

Seventh grade guided reading includes comprehension and analysis of reading level appropriate text. Seventh grade students learn to analyze a range of responses to a literary work and determine the extent to which the literary elements in the work shaped those responses. To strengthen seventh grade reading comprehension, students are asked to read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of literature that reflect and enhance their studies of history and social science. Seventh grade language arts lesson plans guide students to demonstrate reading skill by clarifying ideas and connecting them to other literary works. Seventh grade reading program students are expected to demonstrate the reading skill of literary response and structural feature analysis by articulating expressed purposes and characteristics of different forms of prose including short stories, novelas, and essays).

Another vital component of the seventh grade reading program is narrative analysis of reading skill appropriate text. Students identify events that advance the plot and determine how each event explains past or present action(s) or foreshadows future action(s). After guided reading, students are asked to analyze characterization as delineated through a character’s thoughts, words, speech patterns, and actions; the narrator’s description; and the thoughts, words, and actions of other characters. Also in a seventh grade reading program, students develop reading skill by identifying and analyzing recurring themes across works such as the value of bravery, loyalty, and friendship, or the effects of loneliness. Language arts lesson plans for seventh grade students help them contrast points of view, examining first and third person, limited and omniscient, and subjective and objective in narrative text, explaining how they affect the overall theme of the work.

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive seventh grade language arts curriculum using fun, seventh grade reading activities to build a solid reading foundation. To find out more about the seventh grade language arts program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire seventh grade language arts scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your seventh grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Seventh Grade Language Arts Program.

Posted under grade levels, homeschool curriculum, language arts, middle school curriculum, online reading, reading curriculum, seventh grade curriculum

A sixth grade reading program should be taught using a system of sixth grade reading lesson plans including interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments, and positive reinforcement. Guided reading is a vital part of a sixth grade reading program.

And sixth grade language arts lessons should cover all English language arts strands. The major language arts strands for a sixth grade reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a sixth grade reading program.

Sixth grade reading activities provide an opportunity for students to describe and connect essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. Students learn through guided reading, reading worksheets, language arts games, and many creative methods that make the sixth grade reading program fun for them.

A sixth grade language arts program includes vocabulary and concept development. Reading skill develops as students continue to learn using grade level appropriate reading material. Sixth grade reading program students describe and connect essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. They apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent sixth grade guided reading skills.

For example, the sixth grade reading program requires students to apply knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical and literary context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to understand the precise meaning of grade level appropriate words. Language arts lesson plans help sixth grade reading skill students read narrative and expository text fluently and accurately and with appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression. Their reading level also requires them to identify and interpret figurative language and words with multiple meanings.

In sixth grade students recognize the origins and meanings of frequently used foreign words in English, and use these words accurately in speaking and writing. They should monitor expository text for unknown words or words with novel meanings by using word, sentence, and paragraph clues to determine meaning. Furthermore, a sixth grade reading program includes language arts lesson plans that help children understand and explain “shades of meaning” in related words, for example, “softly” and “quietly”.

The sixth grade reading level is tested with reading skill comprehension strategies.  They analyze text that uses the compare-and-contrast organizational pattern. Sixth grade guided reading includes comprehension and analysis of reading level appropriate text in order to connect and clarify main ideas by identifying their relationships to other sources and related topics. To strengthen comprehension, sixth grade reading program students are asked to clarify an understanding of texts by creating outlines, logical notes, summaries, or reports. Sixth grade language arts lesson plans require students to demonstrate reading skill by following multiple-step instructions for preparing applications (library card, bank savings account, sports club, and/or league membership). Also students in the sixth grade reading program are expected to make reasonable assertions about a text through accurate, supporting citations. In doing this they are instructed to note instances of unsupported inferences, fallacious reasoning, persuasion, and propaganda in text.

Another vital component of the sixth grade language arts program is literary response and analysis of reading skill appropriate text. Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of literature that reflect and enhance their studies of history and social science. Also in the sixth grade reading program, students develop reading skill by analyzing the effect of character qualities such as courage or cowardice, ambition or laziness, on plot and conflict resolution. They also analyze the influence of setting on the problem and its resolution. Language arts lesson plans for sixth grade students help them define how tone or meaning is conveyed in poetry through word choice, figurative language, sentence structure, line length, punctuation, rhythm, repetition, and rhyme. Via guided reading, sixth grade students learn about point of view, identifying the main speaker and recognizing the difference between first-and third-person narration, not only in fiction but also in biographies and autobiographies. Another reading skill introduced in sixth grade is to identify and analyze features of themes conveyed through characters, actions, and images.

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive sixth grade language arts curriculum using fun, sixth grade reading activities to build a solid reading foundation. To find out more about the sixth grade language arts program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire sixth grade language arts scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your sixth grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Sixth Grade Language Arts Program.

Posted under Homeschool, Online Learning, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, language arts, learning to read, middle school curriculum, online reading, reading curriculum, sixth grade curriculum

A fifth grade reading program should be taught using a system of fifth grade reading lesson plans including interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments, and positive reinforcement. Guided reading is a vital part of a fifth grade reading program.

And fifth grade language arts lessons should cover all English language arts strands. The major language arts strands for a fifth grade reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a fifth grade reading program.

Fifth grade reading lesson plans, reading worksheets, and reading activities teach reading skills covering all the language arts strands. Fifth grade reading activities provide an opportunity for children to describe and connect essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. Fifth grade reading program students learn through guided reading, reading worksheets, language arts games, and many creative methods that make the fifth grade reading program fun for them.

A fifth grade reading program includes vocabulary and concept development and word recognition. Reading skill develops as fifth grade reading program students describe and connect essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. They apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent, fifth grade guided reading skill. For example, the fifth grade reading program requires students to apply knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical and literary context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary.

Language arts lesson plans help fifth grade reading skill students use word origins to determine the meaning of unknown words, with the help of the reading teacher. Their reading level enables them to read narrative and expository text aloud, fluently and accurately, and with appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression. Students begin to understand and explain frequently used synonyms, antonyms, and homographs. They should know abstract, derived roots and affixes from Greek and Latin, which will help them analyze the meaning of complex words. A fifth grade reading program includes language arts lesson plans that help children understand and explain the figurative and metaphorical use of words in context.

The fifth grade reading level is improved using reading skill comprehension strategies. Students learn how text features such as format, graphics, sequence, diagrams, illustrations, charts, and maps make information accessible and usable. Fifth grade guided reading includes developing the ability to analyze text that is organized in sequential or chronological order. To strengthen comprehension, fifth grade reading program students learn to discern main ideas and concepts presented in texts, identifying and assessing evidence that supports those ideas.

Fifth grade language arts lesson plans require students to demonstrate reading skill by drawing inferences, conclusions, or generalizations, supporting them with textual evidence and prior knowledge. Fifth grade reading program students are expected to distinguish facts, supported inferences, and opinions in text. Also students in the fifth grade reading program read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of literature. They begin to find ways to clarify ideas and make connections between literary works. Through their fifth grade guided reading they identify and analyze the characteristics of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction, and explain the appropriateness of the literary forms chosen by an author for each specific purpose.

Another vital component of the fifth grade reading program is narrative analysis of reading skill appropriate text. After guided reading, students are asked to identify the main problem or conflict of the plot and explain how it is resolved. They will contrast actions and motives such as loyalty, selfishness, conscientiousness. They will also notice the appearances of characters in a work of fiction and discuss the importance of the contrasts to the plot or theme. Also in fifth grade, students develop reading skill by describing the function and effect of common literary devices (e.g., imagery, metaphor, symbolism).

Language arts lesson plans for fifth grade students help them understand that theme refers to the meaning or moral of a selection. They learn to recognize themes (whether implied or stated directly) in sample works. Via guided reading, fifth grade students evaluate the meaning of archetypal patterns and symbols that are found in myth and tradition by using literature from different eras and cultures. Their fifth grade reading program also uses language arts lesson plans that help children evaluate the author’s use of various techniques such as the appeal of characters in a picture book, logic and credibility of plots and settings, and use of figurative language to influence readers’ perspectives.

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive fifth grade reading curriculum using fun, fifth grade reading activities to build a solid reading foundation. To find out more about the fifth grade language arts program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire fifth grade language arts scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your fifth grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Fifth Grade Language Arts Program.

Posted under Homeschool, Online Learning, elementary homeschool curriculum, fifth grade curriculum, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, language arts, learning to read, online reading, reading curriculum

A fourth grade language arts program should be taught using a system of fourth grade reading lesson plans including interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments, and positive reinforcement. Guided reading is also a vital part of a fourth grade reading program.

And fourth grade language arts lessons should cover all English language arts strands. The major language arts strands for a fourth grade reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a fourth grade reading program.

Fourth grade reading activities provide an opportunity for children to apply the knowledge of word origins, derivations, synonyms, antonyms, and idioms to determine the meaning of words and phrases. Children learn through guided reading, reading worksheets, language arts games, and many creative methods that make the fourth grade reading program fun for them.

A fourth grade language arts program should include word analysis, decoding, and vocabulary development. Reading skill develops as students continue to learn basic features of reading. They select letter patterns and learn to translate them into spoken language using phonics, syllabication, and word parts. They apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent, fourth grade guided reading skill.

The fourth grade language arts curriculum requires students to apply knowledge of word origins, derivations, synonyms, antonyms, and idioms to determine the meaning of words and phrases. Language arts lesson plans help fourth grade reading skill students use knowledge of root words to determine the meaning of unknown words within a passage.

Fourth graders learn common roots and affixes derived from Greek and Latin. They use this knowledge to analyze the meanings of complex words. The fourth grade reading program includes language arts lesson plans that help children distinguish and interpret words with multiple meanings. Fourth grade students are expected to use a thesaurus to determine related words and concepts.

During fourth grade, a student’s reading level is tested with reading skill comprehension strategies such as, generating and responding to essential questions, making predictions, and comparing information from several sources. By fourth grade students read one-half million words annually, including a good representation of grade-level-appropriate narrative and expository text, for example, classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, and online information. Fourth grade guided reading includes identification of structural patterns found in informational text. To strengthen comprehension, fourth grade students compare and contrast, discuss cause and effect, identify sequential or chronological order, and know about proposition and support.

Another vital component of the fourth grade reading program is literary response and analysis using a fourth grade reading list. Through guided reading they are introduced to a wide variety of significant works of reading level appropriate children’s literature. In fourth grade, students develop reading skill by distinguishing between structural features of various imaginative forms of literature including fantasies, fables, myths, legends, and fairy tales.

Language arts lesson plans for fourth grade students encourage them to identify the main events of the plot, their causes, and the influence of each event on future actions. They are expected to determine causes for a character’s actions using knowledge of the situation and setting and of a character’s traits and motivations. Via guided reading, fourth grade students learn to compare and contrast tales from different cultures by tracing the exploits of one character type and developing theories to account for similar tales in diverse cultures.

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive fourth grade reading curriculum using fun, fourth grade reading activities to build a solid reading foundation. To find out more about the fourth grade language arts program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire fourth grade language arts scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your fourth grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Fourth Grade Language Arts Program.

Posted under Online Learning, elementary homeschool curriculum, fourth grade curriculum, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, language arts, learning to read, online reading, reading curriculum

A third grade reading program should be taught using a system of third grade reading lesson plans including interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments, and positive reinforcement. Guided reading is a vital part of a third grade reading program.

The major language arts strands for a third grade reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a third grade reading program.

A third grade language arts program includes word analysis, decoding, and vocabulary development. Reading skill develops as students learn more about the basic features of reading. Third graders select letter patterns and learn to translate them into spoken language by using phonics, syllabication, and word parts. They apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent guided reading skills.

The third grade reading program requires students to recognize and use complex word families when reading to decode unfamiliar words. Language arts lesson plans help students decode multi-syllabic words.

Third grade children use sentence and word contexts to find meanings of unknown words. They also learn to use a dictionary to find meanings and other features of unknown words. Another clue to word meaning is the knowledge of prefixes (e.g., un-, re-, pre-, bi-, mis-, dis-) and suffixes (e.g., -er, -est, -ful).

The third grade reading program requires children to read narrative and expository text aloud, fluently and accurately, and with appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression. Students begin to understand antonyms, synonyms, homophones, and homographs to determine the meanings of words. The third grade reading program also includes language arts lesson plans that help children demonstrate knowledge of levels of specificity such as a cat compared to animals, or a banana compared to food.

The third grade reading level is tested with reading skill comprehension strategies such as generating and responding to essential questions, making predictions, and comparing information from several sources. For example, third grade guided reading includes comprehension of the purpose in reading, so students develop reading skill by telling about the information being sought. They are expected to ask questions and support answers by connecting prior knowledge with literal information found in, and inferred from, the text.

Students in the third grade reading program demonstrate comprehension by identifying answers in the text. They recall major points in the text and make and modify predictions about forthcoming information. Through third grade guided reading they learn to distinguish the main idea and supporting details in expository text, then extract appropriate and significant information including problems and solutions. They follow simple multiple-step written instructions appropriate to their reading level, and interpret information from diagrams, charts, and graphs. Language arts lesson plans also teach children to use titles, tables of contents, chapter headings, glossaries, and indexes to locate information in text.

Another vital component of the third grade reading program is literary response and analysis using a third grade reading list. Students develop reading skill by distinguishing between structural features of the text and literary elements such as theme, plot, setting, and characters. Language arts lesson plans for third grade students encourage development of an ability to distinguish common forms of literature such as poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction, as well as the basic plots of classic fairy tales, myths, folktale, legends, and fables from around the world. The third grade children learn to determine what characters are like by what they say or do and by how the author or illustrator portrays them.

Via guided reading, third grade students learn to determine the underlying theme or author’s message in reading level appropriate fiction and nonfiction text. The third grade reading program uses language arts lesson plans that help children recognize the similarities of sounds in words and rhythmic patterns such as alliteration and onomatopoeia in guided reading selections. Third grade children are asked to identify the speaker or narrator.

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive third grade language arts curriculum using fun, third grade reading activities to build a solid reading foundation. To find out more about the third grade language arts program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire third grade language arts scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your third grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Third Grade Language Arts Program.

Posted under Homeschool, elementary homeschool curriculum, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, language arts, learning to read, online reading, reading curriculum, third grade curriculum

A first grade reading program should be taught using a system of first grade reading lesson plans including interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments, and positive reinforcement. Guided reading is a vital part of a first grade reading program.

First grade language arts lessons should cover all English language arts strands. The major language arts strands for a first grade reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a first grade reading program.

A first grade reading program helps children learn the basic features of reading skill. First grade children learn to translate letter patterns into spoken language using phonics, syllabication, and word parts. They apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent reading skill.

At this reading level children identify letters, words, and sentences. They match oral words to printed words and during guided reading, the reading teacher asks children to identify the author and title of each reading selection. Children classify reading level appropriate categories of words (for example, colors, foods, animals).

Phonics are important in a first grade reading program. Reading skill develops as children learn to decode elements of words using phonics. Language arts lesson plans emphasize initial, medial, and final sounds in single-syllable words; create and state series of rhyming words, include consonant blends; add, delete, or change target sounds to change words (for example, change met to get or cat to sat); blend two to four phonemes into recognizable words (for example, /b/ i/ g/ = big; /k/ i/ t/ e/ = kite); and segment single-syllable words into their components (for example, /d/ o/ g/ = dog; /r/ i/ ch/ = rich).

At this reading level children learn to use consonant blends and long-and short-vowel patterns. They develop the reading skill of using vowel digraphs and r- controlled letter-sound associations. Language arts lesson plans help children read common, irregular sight words. The reading program explains compound words and contractions, root words, inflectional forms, and common word families.

A first grade reading program also offers children guided reading experience with children’s literature appropriate to the first grade reading level.  First grade language arts lesson plans help children develop reading skill by describing elements of plot and setting, identifying characters, and discussing each story’s beginning, middle, and end.

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive first grade reading curriculum using fun, first grade reading activities to build a solid reading foundation. To find out more about the First Grade language arts program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire First Grade Language Arts scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your First Grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning First Grade Language Arts Program.

Posted under Homeschool, elementary homeschool curriculum, first grade curriculum, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, language arts, learning to read, reading curriculum

A good kindergarten reading program curriculum relies on many learning tools - kindergarten reading worksheets, reading activities, reading games, reinforcement exercises, and assessments. And kindergarten language arts lessons should cover all English language arts strands. The major language arts strands for a kindergarten reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a kindergarten reading program.

Kindergarten reading lesson plans, reading worksheets, and reading activities teach reading skills covering all the language arts strands. Kindergarten reading activities provide an opportunity for children to get a basic understanding of reading skill, decoding, and phonics. These very young children learn through guided reading, reading worksheets, language arts games, and many creative methods that make the kindergarten reading program fun for them.

The Time4Learning Reading and Language Arts curriculum for kindergarten level introduces young learners to age-appropriate literature.  The online activities support the students learning of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension.  The Writer’s Corner introduces the students to the process of story-building by selecting backgrounds, objects, and characters from the stories they are reading to create their own stories.  These are then able to be printed out and shared.

Detailed teacher’s guides provide multiple suggestions for offline activities, including handwriting practice, additional worksheets, and activity plans to supplement the online instruction.

There are almost 200 language arts activities in the kindergarten curriculum, and children can either move through them sequentially, or pick and choose from the lessons, using the Activity Finder. Parents can easily follow their child’s progress by logging into the child’s portfolio and viewing day by day lessons or a customizable and printable report than can be sorted by subject, lesson type, or date range.

To find out more about the Kindergarten reading program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire kindergarten scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your kindergartener experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Kindergarten Reading Program.

Posted under grade levels, homeschool curriculum, kindergarten curriculum, learning to read, reading curriculum

Nothing is more exciting or more important than helping a child learn to read!  One of my very favorite parts of homeschooling has been the chance to actually be there first hand as my children were learning to make sense out of letters, words, and sentences.  The process of reading is the culmination of several diverse skills. 

Time4Learning uses the Reading Skills Pyramid to help explain the patterns that  children follow in acquiring reading skills.

The foundation of the pyramid includes a language rich environment in which each of the following are stressed:

• Print Concepts, such as books and stories
• Phonemic Awareness, or paying attention to sounds and letters
• Vocabulary, both in context and independently learned
• Comprehension, such as making story predictions and following instructions
• Fluency, which comes later as children are making faster connections between sounds and letters

(to see the full visual representation of the Reading Pyramid, click here)

By building on each of these main skills, children are paving the way for reading success.  Fortunately, Time4Learning provides a comprehensive reading program that does just that.  The structured reading instruction of the Time4Learning curriculum interweaves listening, speaking, reading, and writing. 

In a sequential fashion, children who use Time4Learning build reading skill upon reading skill in a creative, interactive way.  The online lessons were developed by experts and are correlated with national standards.  If you would like to learn more about how Time4Learning can help your child build a successful reading foundation, click here.

Posted under homeschool curriculum, learning to read, online reading, reading curriculum