Our literacy curriculum is called Benchmark Education. This curriculum focuses on the components of the Science of Reading. Students are directly instructed on phonics, word study, reading comprehension, and writing skills. A reading lesson will begin with a read aloud that allows students to learn new vocabulary words and hear appropriate reading fluency modeled by the teacher. Then students will engage in a short whole-group mini-lesson and a shared reading time, which will allow them to practice a specific reading skill. Finally, students will work both independently and in small groups to further practice the reading skill learned in class. Writing lessons begin with a mini-lesson in which the teacher will instruct on and model a writing skill or strategy for students. Students will then have time to practice and try that writing skill independently and with teacher guidance.