About the resource
Know Your Code is a classroom resource for grades 3+ that closes gaps and expands student knowledge of common and less common spelling patterns. Created by a Canadian author team, this resource helps students expand their knowledge and skills of sound-spelling patterns for decoding and encoding, comprehension, word knowledge, and writing.
Topics
Know Your Code provides explicit instruction to develop students’ knowledge and skills of:
- Common and less common spelling patterns
- Comprehensive strategies
- Reading fluency
- Breaking longer words into syllables
- Vocabulary development
- Background knowledge
- Morphology and word study
- Language conventions
Components
Student Book
The 88-page Student Book includes:
- Two texts for each of the 40 focus sounds: 1 text with the most common spelling patterns and 1 text with less common spelling patterns, plus 4 review texts
- Authentic, non-fiction texts in a variety of text forms such as recipes, diary entries, letters, postcards, instructions, observations, and more
- Writers and topics represent the diversity of Canda and includes 6 articles written by Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit authors
- Many texts have cross-curricular connections to science, social studies, art, or health and physical education
Teacher’s Guide
The Teacher’s Guide provides:
- Explicit instruction of the spelling patterns that represent each focus sound
- Support to development comprehension skills, develop vocabulary, and build background knowledge
- Instruction to build fluency, develop morphology and word study skills, and practise encoding
- Shared and independent writing opportunities that include using different forms, writing traits, and the stages of the writing process
- Supportive 3-part Lesson Plans for each text in the Student Book
3-Part Lesson Plan
PART 1
Teach The Patterns
Provides explicit instruction on spelling patterns for focus sounds.
PART 2
Read The Text
The lesson plans with Before, During, and After sections develop students’ comprehension strategies, build background knowledge, and develop vocabulary.
PART 3
Practice and Apply
Opportunities for students to build fluency, practise with word work and guided spelling, develop writing skills, and connect to curriculum areas/subjects.
Companion Website for Teachers
Website includes additional instructional tools for teachers:
- Projectable versions of each text
- Mini-lessons for morphology (prefixes, suffixes, inflection endings), word study, vocabulary, and language conventions
- Reproducible activity pages
- Word lists for focus sounds
- Comprehensive framework for texts
- Professional development videos
Browse the Table of Contents
Download PDF
Jennette MacKenzie, MEd
Jennette MacKenzie, MEd is an educator with experience as a classroom teacher, school librarian, district consultant, and principal of curriculum and professional development for elementary and secondary schools.
Jennette is the senior author of several leading series used by teachers and students across the country and frequently provides professional development for schools, school districts, and provinces.
Sample section
Explore the Know Your Code Program
