Wonders by McGraw-Hill is Saint Philip the Apostles streamlined instructional program

in reading and Language Arts for Kindergarten through 5th grade. It is not a district instructional

program or a state instructional program, although many California public schools use Wonders

by McGraw-Hill as it follows CCSS (Common Core State Standards). Saint Philip the Apostle

School is a Catholic private institution which is managed under the Los Angeles Archdiocese. As

a Catholic private school we are given the freedom to choose an instructional reading program

and language arts program that meets the needs of our students as well as follows Common Core

State Standards. Wonders by McGraw-Hill is a comprehensive kindergarten through 6th grade

literacy program that was created to meet all learners as well as an intervention program for

students who may struggle. Saint Philip chose to streamline Wonders to its elementary program

Kindergarten through 5th grade classes although the program itself it designed for Kindergarten

through 6th grade. However, Saint Philip’s has chosen another McGraw-Hill English Language

Arts program for its middle school curriculum by the name of StudySync.

The Wonders Curriculum focuses on reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, which

include speaking and listening skills, which are all taken from Common Core State Standards

which follow California Reading/Language Arts framework. Students are taught to read a wide

range of genres, asked to focus and annotate text, the ability to listen to the text and the ability to

speak and present what they have learned. They also are taught how to write by using modeling

through teacher/student representation, as well as, digital content that models for students.

Students are expected to write analytically using textual evidence to support their claims.

Kindergarten skills focus on ten units and the following strategies are used within each

unit: genre/topic, high frequency words, letter of focus for handwriting, writing trait, grammar

lesson, phonemic awareness focus, and skill. First grade curriculum focus is on reading different
genres, reading aloud, reading and writing, level readers (alone or paired), vocabulary, high

frequency words, fluency, and research. 2nd-5th grade curriculum focus is on reading different

genres, reading aloud, reading and writing, level readers (alone or paired), vocabulary, high

frequency words, phonics skills, phonemic awareness, spelling, grammar, fluency, and research.

Each program from 1st - 5th grade contained level readers for students reading independently

and for those students who read in pairs.

Teachers are also given the opportunity to differentiate. Level readers, short texts from

the reading anthology allows teachers to differentiate for specific students. The differentiation is

for Approaching level, On Benchmark, English Language Learners, struggling readers and

Beyond Benchmark. Each assigned reading is given a lexile score which can help the teacher

determine what level a student should be reading for a particular lesson and what material needs

to be practiced for a specific student. Educators can also use running records to assess a

student's lexile score and then distribute the correct reading material for a particular student.

Wonders contains its own running records which contains all materials for teachers to use. Extra

resources are provided through the program in order to assess, or to use as supplemental tools to

help English language learners, proficient students meeting benchmark expectations or

exceeding expectations, struggling readers who may need extra help to approach grade level.

These materials include reading materials, writing materials, as well as digital content such as

audio or videos for students to watch.

Wonders follows extensive scientific research. Wonders is based on research such as,

Independent efficacy studies, in which the students using Wonders showed gains from

beginning-of-year to end-of-year exams. They also used scientific research through case studies

and testimonials from a range of customers that used Wonders. McGraw Hill has also conducted
a perception study in which different programs were surveyed. All these studies were used to

better understand the effectiveness of the program.

Wonders does not only have a core curriculum based on reading, writing, speaking and

listening but they also have supplemental tools for educators. Many of their programs and tools

are digital. Students and educators can access books, work, and tools online through a digital

component. These tools range from level reading books based on lexile scores, teacher

assessment tools for reading, phonics and phonemic awareness, vocabulary, spelling, and

writing. Many of these resources include online digital components such as rubrics, assessment

worksheets such running records, and comprehension assessment tools. Many of these digital

components can be accessed online. Teachers can access progress and work, in order to inform

their teaching and intervene when students are struggling or if they are exceeding expectations

allowing them to meet all students needs.

 References

August, D., & McGraw-Hill Education (Firm). (2014). McGraw-Hill reading wonders: CCSS

reading/language arts program. Bothell, WA: McGraw-Hill Education.