A unit on friendship in the basal reader was extended to include many literature experiences and teacher-directed and student-initiated activities for children in second grade. Quality pieces of literature from different genres served as the unit\u27s basis. Many different expressive activities that extended the literature experiences were offered through learning centers, both sustaining and specific to the unit. Children worked in the centers individually, in pairs, and in small groups. Whole group sharing time at the end of daily center sessions was provided.
The print-rich environment with many opportunities for engaging in the language processes led to quality comprehension-composition connections. As children made choices of literature to read and respond to, they took ownership of their learning, thus heightening their thinking-language abilities
