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Geodes® Classroom Libraries


Engaging, accessible, knowledge-building books for emerging and developing readers

Reading to Learn While Learning to Read

Rooted in the belief that children are capable of reading to learn while learning to read, Geodes®, published by Great Minds® in association with Wilson Language Training® (WLT), are a collection of accessible, knowledge-building books for emerging and developing readers.

Named after the modest-looking rocks that contain countless crystals inside, Geodes hold a surprising amount of interesting, complex, and beautiful qualities inside each book. Students practice applying taught skills and concepts while learning about important ideas in science, history, and the arts. 

These texts combine Wilson’s expertise in foundational reading skills instruction and Great Minds’ experience at building students’ content knowledge. Geodes align with both the scope and sequence of Fundations® and the module topics in Great Minds’ English language arts curriculum Wit & Wisdom®.

About the Readables

What does the term “readable” mean? Geodes are “readable texts” because, with specific decoding strategies coupled with explicit instruction in vocabulary and content knowledge, they are wonderfully accessible to students with emerging reading skills. While written for emerging and developing readers, the books provide an authentic reading experience that builds content knowledge about science, history, and the arts, fostering intellectual curiosity.

Unique Features of Geodes

Each of the four modules cover a specific topic, and the sets within a module cover a subtopic.

  • Topics from many content areas and genres build content knowledge and context.
  • Texts are organized in grade-level appropriate sets, with each set building a “mental shelf.”
  • Geodes are 80%* decodable or higher at a designated point in the Fundations scope and sequence.
  • Decodable words include previously taught and newly taught phonetic concepts that align with Fundations.
  • Recognizable words include previously taught and newly taught Fundations Trick Words.
  • Pre-selected content words related to the topic are taught for sight recognition. Including these, the decodability of the text is greater than 80%, making them “readable” and accessible.

*While the majority of Geodes are 80% decodable or above, three books in the Level 1 library are intended to be read along with students and are at least 70% decodable. Also, in the K library, the child-read text in Modules 3 and 4 is 90% decodable or higher.

Using Geodes

Geodes align to the Fundations Scope and Sequence — they can be used outside of Fundations lessons or incorporated into fluency practice. The foundational skills and concepts included in the Geodes Classroom Libraries align with the corresponding Fundations® program level. Geodes are 80% decodable or higher at a designated point in the Fundations scope and sequence. This means that a minimum of 80% of the words contain phonetic elements and trick words that have been explicitly taught up to a specific Fundations Unit; this is indicated on the back of each book. It is recommended that each book be read by the Fundations student after they have completed the Unit identified on the back of the book. Image of Geodes cover details

Inside Geodes®

Inside Geodes® is a teacher resource with Book Notes that correspond to each Geode and include the Fundations® alignment, story summary, word lists (with decodable words, trick words, and words that cannot yet be decoded at the specific Fundations® Unit) discussion questions, and journal ideas. Explore Library Cat Book Notes here!

Image of the Cover of Inside Geodes

Level-specific Libraries

Geodes’ texts are organized in grade-level appropriate sets. Each library is organized into topical modules that interest young minds.

The Geodes books provide an authentic reading experience that builds content knowledge about science, history, and the arts, fostering intellectual curiosity.

Geodes are available in Levels K, 1, and 2 to align with the Fundations scope and sequence.