Book excerpt: Need more standards support in your lesson plans? Finish Line New York ELA is the perfect fit with step-by-step instruction to help students take on the challenging nature of New York's Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS). This next generation of Finish Line includes 300+ pages of focused practice and a new lesson format. The gradual release model is extended to four parts to promote deeper learning: Skill Introduction, Focused Instruction, Guided Practice, and Independent Practice. Guided questions model the thought process. Language Arts/Writing is integrated into the book. A full unit of writing standards helps students practice the writing process, learn how to answer open-ended questions, and apply grammar and usage conventions. Much like New York's standards and assessments, students are required to do close reading of rigorous text. Reviews include PARCC-type items, as well as multiple-choice, open-ended, and multipart questions. Finish Line is designed to supplement core basal programs, including ReadyGEN(tm) and Common Core Code X(tm).