Poway Schools OK New Reading Series for 6th-Graders

Poway sixth-graders will learn reading and grammar this fall from textbooks that emphasize literature rather than rote exercises.

The Poway Unified school board voted Monday night to adopt sixth-grade literature textbooks in line with those used by seventh- and eighth-grade students for the past year.

“The textbook we used prior to this one focused on specific decoding skills, grammar skills and special comprehension skills,” said Leslie Fausset, assistant superintendent for learning support services. “The new texts give students a whole piece of literature with which to work, and we’ve found that all students benefit from critically analyzing and studying a text.”

The old textbooks have been in use in the district for the past 10 years. Two years ago the district piloted the new texts, which are published by Prentice-Hall, Fausset said.

Seventh- and eighth-graders had been using similar literature-based texts since last year, but sixth-grade books were not available until recently, Fausset said.

Fausset said the new texts also incorporate examples of fine arts corresponding to the piece of literature the student is reading.

“Prentice-Hall has done a magnificent job of introducing some fine arts components, giving background information on paintings shown and the artists who painted them. It really helps give the student the full picture,” Fausset said.

David Hughes, assistant superintendent, said the change in textbooks was in step with changes in the state as a whole.

“The approach in the state of California has been moved to an integrated arts program dealing with reading, writing and literature as a unit,” Hughes said.

Fausset said San Diego city schools are in their first year of adopting a similar textbook, but to her knowledge no other district in the county has done so.

“Working with a piece of literature, working in conjunction with the literature enables us to integrate not only writing skills but also critical thinking skills,” Fausset said.