[LIT] Materials for balanced literacy 4 to 8?

[Mary Dovey]

Please forgive the cross post, but my supervisor seems interested suddenly
in purchasing a reading series for grades 4 to 8. I'm flabbergasted--to me,
authentic trade books are the basis for teaching reading. (We use a variety
of sources for teaching writing.)

This may be a done deal, but I'm going to try to do my best to guide the
purchase as best I can--if I can. Any and all comments on materials you
like, things you hate, etc., would be appreciated. One specific I'm
interested in is what materials you've found that best help teach grammar
and punctuation, particularly in the context of writer's workshop.

Thanks for all your help, in advance. If our teachers get stuck with some
lame "series" it'll make my job as instructional coach for literacy a
nightmare... 

Mary D.

P.S. I have samples of Great Source's Sourcebook and Daybook for each grade
but I'm not certain how helpful they'd be. Anyone use them?