About Sails Literacy Series

Following is an overview of Sails Literacy Series organization and levels. Click on the level to see a description.

Stage/ Sails Level	Grade Level	Guided Reading Level	DRA Level	PM Levels
Emergent
First Wave	K	A-B	1-2	1-2
Magenta	K-1	B-C	2-3	2-4
Early
Red	1	E-G	8-12	7-12
Yellow	1	E-G	8-12	7-12
Blue	1-2	F-I	10-16	9-16
Blue Sailing Solo	1-2	F-I	10- 16	9-18
Green	1-2	H-J	14-20	13-18
Green Sailing Solo	1-2	H-J	14-18	13-20
Fluent
Orange	2	J-N	18-30	17-23
Turquoise	2-3	J-O	18-34	18-24
Purple	2-3	K-P	20-38	20-25
Gold	3-4	N-R	30-40	23-27
Mainsails 1	4	Q-S	40	26-28
Mainsails 2	5	S-V	50	28-30
Mainsails 3	6	V-Y	50-60	30+
Mainsails 4	7-9	Z	70-80	-
Sails Shared Reading	K-2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Projectable Poetry Posters	K-2	n/a	n/a	n/a

First Wave

The First Wave level introduces beginning readers to high-frequency words and phrases that are essential for reading. The 96 titles have a consistent structure that supports young readers as they move from simple captions to more complex structures. A unique feature of the First Wave books is the visual storyframes which provide a springboard for oral discussion and critical thinking.

First Wave

The First Wave level introduces beginning readers to high-frequency words and phrases that are essential for reading. The 96 titles have a consistent structure that supports young readers as they move from simple captions to more complex structures. A unique feature of the First Wave books is the visual storyframes which provide a springboard for oral discussion and critical thinking.

Magenta

The Magenta level has both fiction and nonfiction books, which use straightforward and meaningful language. The non-fiction books include an index to introduce and develop children's skills in accessing and retrieving information. Simple visual information is introduced for children to interpret - for example, speech bubbles, pictorial panels, simple maps, etc.

Magenta

The Magenta level has both fiction and nonfiction books, which use straightforward and meaningful language. The non-fiction books include an index to introduce and develop children's skills in accessing and retrieving information. Simple visual information is introduced for children to interpret - for example, speech bubbles, pictorial panels, simple maps, etc.

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green

High frequency words from the emergent level are consolidated and new words are gradually introduced. Children continue to develop skills in the structure and use of language, while developing skills in accessing, interpreting and processing information. Each text has a visual focus (i.e. advertisements, flow charts, labels, maps, pictographs). There is a range of written genre so that children are exposed to a variety of writing styles in order to develop competency in their own writing.

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green

High frequency words from the emergent level are consolidated and new words are gradually introduced. Children continue to develop skills in the structure and use of language, while developing skills in accessing, interpreting and processing information. Each text has a visual focus (i.e. advertisements, flow charts, labels, maps, pictographs). There is a range of written genre so that children are exposed to a variety of writing styles in order to develop competency in their own writing.

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green

High frequency words from the emergent level are consolidated and new words are gradually introduced. Children continue to develop skills in the structure and use of language, while developing skills in accessing, interpreting and processing information. Each text has a visual focus (i.e. advertisements, flow charts, labels, maps, pictographs). There is a range of written genre so that children are exposed to a variety of writing styles in order to develop competency in their own writing.

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green

High frequency words from the emergent level are consolidated and new words are gradually introduced. Children continue to develop skills in the structure and use of language, while developing skills in accessing, interpreting and processing information. Each text has a visual focus (i.e. advertisements, flow charts, labels, maps, pictographs). There is a range of written genre so that children are exposed to a variety of writing styles in order to develop competency in their own writing.

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green

High frequency words from the emergent level are consolidated and new words are gradually introduced. Children continue to develop skills in the structure and use of language, while developing skills in accessing, interpreting and processing information. Each text has a visual focus (i.e. advertisements, flow charts, labels, maps, pictographs). There is a range of written genre so that children are exposed to a variety of writing styles in order to develop competency in their own writing.

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green

High frequency words from the emergent level are consolidated and new words are gradually introduced. Children continue to develop skills in the structure and use of language, while developing skills in accessing, interpreting and processing information. Each text has a visual focus (i.e. advertisements, flow charts, labels, maps, pictographs). There is a range of written genre so that children are exposed to a variety of writing styles in order to develop competency in their own writing.

Blue Sailing Solo, Green Sailing Solo

The Sailing Solo books provide opportunities for children to practise the reading strategies introduced in the Guided Reading session. Each 24-page book features:

Simple language structures
Direct speech – impacted by colour so the flow and phasing is encouraged
Non threatening manageable small chunks of text
An introduction to characters/setting
A interactive double page spread that reinforces skills and visual elements
A word bank summary page at story end with picture links
Funky and modern with comic/cartoon design elements

Blue Sailing Solo, Green Sailing Solo

The Sailing Solo books provide opportunities for children to practise the reading strategies introduced in the Guided Reading session. Each 24-page book features:

Simple language structures
Direct speech – impacted by colour so the flow and phasing is encouraged
Non threatening manageable small chunks of text
An introduction to characters/setting
A interactive double page spread that reinforces skills and visual elements
A word bank summary page at story end with picture links
Funky and modern with comic/cartoon design elements

Blue Sailing Solo, Green Sailing Solo

The Sailing Solo books provide opportunities for children to practise the reading strategies introduced in the Guided Reading session. Each 24-page book features:

Simple language structures
Direct speech – impacted by colour so the flow and phasing is encouraged
Non threatening manageable small chunks of text
An introduction to characters/setting
A interactive double page spread that reinforces skills and visual elements
A word bank summary page at story end with picture links
Funky and modern with comic/cartoon design elements

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green

High frequency words from the emergent level are consolidated and new words are gradually introduced. Children continue to develop skills in the structure and use of language, while developing skills in accessing, interpreting and processing information. Each text has a visual focus (i.e. advertisements, flow charts, labels, maps, pictographs). There is a range of written genre so that children are exposed to a variety of writing styles in order to develop competency in their own writing.

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green

High frequency words from the emergent level are consolidated and new words are gradually introduced. Children continue to develop skills in the structure and use of language, while developing skills in accessing, interpreting and processing information. Each text has a visual focus (i.e. advertisements, flow charts, labels, maps, pictographs). There is a range of written genre so that children are exposed to a variety of writing styles in order to develop competency in their own writing.

Blue Sailing Solo, Green Sailing Solo

The Sailing Solo books provide opportunities for children to practise the reading strategies introduced in the Guided Reading session. Each 24-page book features:

Simple language structures
Direct speech – impacted by colour so the flow and phasing is encouraged
Non threatening manageable small chunks of text
An introduction to characters/setting
A interactive double page spread that reinforces skills and visual elements
A word bank summary page at story end with picture links
Funky and modern with comic/cartoon design elements

Blue Sailing Solo, Green Sailing Solo

The Sailing Solo books provide opportunities for children to practise the reading strategies introduced in the Guided Reading session. Each 24-page book features:

Simple language structures
Direct speech – impacted by colour so the flow and phasing is encouraged
Non threatening manageable small chunks of text
An introduction to characters/setting
A interactive double page spread that reinforces skills and visual elements
A word bank summary page at story end with picture links
Funky and modern with comic/cartoon design elements

Orange, Turquoise, Purple, Gold

Children continue to be challenged to think critically and apply comprehension and processing strategies to more complex texts. High frequency words introduced at the earlier levels stage are reinforced and more challenging interest words are incorporated. Children are introduced to the essential Text Forms of Narrative, Recount, Report and Explanation.

Orange, Turquoise, Purple, Gold

Children continue to be challenged to think critically and apply comprehension and processing strategies to more complex texts. High frequency words introduced at the earlier levels stage are reinforced and more challenging interest words are incorporated. Children are introduced to the essential Text Forms of Narrative, Recount, Report and Explanation.

Orange, Turquoise, Purple, Gold

Children continue to be challenged to think critically and apply comprehension and processing strategies to more complex texts. High frequency words introduced at the earlier levels stage are reinforced and more challenging interest words are incorporated. Children are introduced to the essential Text Forms of Narrative, Recount, Report and Explanation.

Orange, Turquoise, Purple, Gold

Children continue to be challenged to think critically and apply comprehension and processing strategies to more complex texts. High frequency words introduced at the earlier levels stage are reinforced and more challenging interest words are incorporated. Children are introduced to the essential Text Forms of Narrative, Recount, Report and Explanation.

Orange, Turquoise, Purple, Gold

Children continue to be challenged to think critically and apply comprehension and processing strategies to more complex texts. High frequency words introduced at the earlier levels stage are reinforced and more challenging interest words are incorporated. Children are introduced to the essential Text Forms of Narrative, Recount, Report and Explanation.

Orange, Turquoise, Purple, Gold

Children continue to be challenged to think critically and apply comprehension and processing strategies to more complex texts. High frequency words introduced at the earlier levels stage are reinforced and more challenging interest words are incorporated. Children are introduced to the essential Text Forms of Narrative, Recount, Report and Explanation.

Orange, Turquoise, Purple, Gold

Children continue to be challenged to think critically and apply comprehension and processing strategies to more complex texts. High frequency words introduced at the earlier levels stage are reinforced and more challenging interest words are incorporated. Children are introduced to the essential Text Forms of Narrative, Recount, Report and Explanation.

Mainsails

Mainsails gives your students the inside knowledge on how language works, how to analyse it and how to apply it to a variety of situations. Each title features:

a stimulating magazine-style format
unique Think Tank elements encouraging students to ask questions, make predictions and inferences, summarise key points, focus on language, and analyse literacy devices
specific modelling of text types, including fantasy, mystery, reports, explanation and narratives.
a 'Think About the Text' section that gets students making connections to their own personal experience, to similar or different texts, and to issues within the world

Mainsails

Mainsails gives your students the inside knowledge on how language works, how to analyse it and how to apply it to a variety of situations. Each title features:

a stimulating magazine-style format
unique Think Tank elements encouraging students to ask questions, make predictions and inferences, summarise key points, focus on language, and analyse literacy devices
specific modelling of text types, including fantasy, mystery, reports, explanation and narratives.
a 'Think About the Text' section that gets students making connections to their own personal experience, to similar or different texts, and to issues within the world

Mainsails

Mainsails gives your students the inside knowledge on how language works, how to analyse it and how to apply it to a variety of situations. Each title features:

a stimulating magazine-style format
unique Think Tank elements encouraging students to ask questions, make predictions and inferences, summarise key points, focus on language, and analyse literacy devices
specific modelling of text types, including fantasy, mystery, reports, explanation and narratives.
a 'Think About the Text' section that gets students making connections to their own personal experience, to similar or different texts, and to issues within the world

Mainsails

Mainsails gives your students the inside knowledge on how language works, how to analyse it and how to apply it to a variety of situations. Each title features:

a stimulating magazine-style format
unique Think Tank elements encouraging students to ask questions, make predictions and inferences, summarise key points, focus on language, and analyse literacy devices
specific modelling of text types, including fantasy, mystery, reports, explanation and narratives.
a 'Think About the Text' section that gets students making connections to their own personal experience, to similar or different texts, and to issues within the world

Shared Reading Series

The Shared Reading books are designed for whole-class teaching. Small copies of the shared readers are also available, which offer children the opportunity to enjoy the storyline many times over at their own leisure. The books feature:

rhythm and rhyme
magic and humour
repetitive chunks of language
stories with rich language that can withstand repeated readings

Projectable Poetry Poster Packs

These CD-ROMs feature humorous, memorable poems to encourage a love of poetry. Through Sails Poetry students will:

extend and enrich their vocabulary
be exposed to the sight and sounds of language in a non-threatening way
receive practice in fluency (flow, phrasing, pace)
have their knowledge of print conventions, phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context reinforced

Includes teaching notes and linemasters for printing poems so the students can do their own illustrations.

Sails and MainSails