| Information Only |
February 9, 2001
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
Subject: Grade 6 Reading Textbooks
Agency staff have received questions concerning the reading textbooks for grade 6. This letter addresses two issues: a reading textbook for grade 6 and a reading elective textbook for grade 6. Please share this letter with your district and campus administrators, as appropriate.
Grade 6 reading may be offered by districts in one of two ways: as Reading Departmentalized, grade 6 (PEIMS number 02810000) or as part of English language arts and reading, grade 6 (PEIMS number 03200510). The appropriate textbook for Reading Departmentalized, grade 6 or English language arts and reading, grade 6 is a textbook from the list of Literature, grade 6 textbooks adopted by the State Board of Education in November 2000. The Literature, grade 6 textbooks contain 100% of the reading Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and 100% of the English language arts TEKS called for in Proclamation 1998. This combination facilitates the integration between reading and writing for students. Students in Reading Departmentalized, grade 6 could use the same textbook for English language arts Departmentalized, grade 6 (PEIMS number 02800000).
The next issue is the Reading Elective, grade 6 course (PEIMS number 03273410), for which there is no adopted textbook. There are several options available to districts that teach this course. The options are based on the district's purpose for offering Reading Elective, grades 6, 7, and/or 8. District purposes can include: a remedial reading course for struggling readers; a reading elective course for everyone in addition to Reading Departmentalized, grades 6, 7, and 8 or the integrated English language arts, grades 6, 7, and 8; or a course for students seeking advanced reading skills. When adopting textbooks for the reading elective course, it is important that both the purpose for the course and the needs of the students who will take the course be addressed.
Many districts and campuses offer Reading Elective, grades 6, 7, and 8 as remedial courses. The TEKS for the middle school reading electives are appropriate for a remedial reading course. Additionally, the textbooks on the state conforming adoption list (November 2000) specifically target struggling readers who read 1-3 years below grade level. The dilemma for districts is that only two textbooks are on the state-adopted conforming list for Reading Elective (Scholastic Read XL, grades 7 and 8) while districts may offer the course in grades 6, 7, and 8.
One option would be for districts to group the students by need and use the two adopted textbooks across the three years to meet individual needs. With small group instruction within the larger classroom, some students will significantly increase their reading achievement in 1 or 2 years while other students may require 3 years. By following a sequence of instruction and pace of introduction appropriate for the student, two textbooks may be sufficient.
If school districts choose this option, they should order state-adopted textbooks for the remedial reading course, Reading Elective, in grades 6-8 by updating their student population data in EMAT to reflect the total Reading Elective enrollment for all three grades. The school district may then place an order for the appropriate number of Reading Elective textbooks for use in each of the three grades based on the students' proficiency in reading.
Another option would be for districts to purchase a grade 6 book or materials at their own expense. There are several current grants that allow purchase of instructional materials that may be used to assist in this purchase. They are: Texas Reading Academy grants, Academics 2000, and Texas After School Initiative for Middle Schools. The agency is continuing to research other options to support districts as they work with struggling readers.
Additional materials regarding this issue have been forwarded under separate cover to the district textbook coordinator for distribution to the district English language arts supervisor.
If you have questions about reading instruction, please contact Dr. Shirley Dickson, Director of Reading, Curriculum and Professional Development, at 512-936-2291. If you have questions about ordering textbooks, please call Dr. Robert Leos, Senior Director, Textbook Administration, at 512-463-9601.
Sincerely,
Ann Smisko
Associate Commissioner
Curriculum, Assessment, and Technology
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For further information on this topic, contact Dr. Robert Leos, Senior Director, Textbook Administration, at 512-463-9601