English Language Arts
As educators, we aim to cultivate every student's lifelong appreciation for reading and writing. At the elementary level, we believe in a balanced approach to literacy that integrates phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and word study/vocabulary skills. As our students progress, they also develop a strong grasp of grammatical procedures, enhancing their ability to express complex ideas with clarity and precision. Over time, these foundational skills promote critical thinking, creativity, and a passion for literacy.
We use a variety of resources to support the varied developmental stages of our K-12 readers and writers. To build a solid foundation in literacy, our K-1 students develop phonemic awareness skills using Heggerty. In first and second grade, learning is expanded to include more phonetic skills with the Units of Study: Phonics. Grades 3-5 further this knowledge by participating in word study and spelling patterns through Words Their Way activities. Both our elementary and middle school classrooms also utilize the Units of Study for Reading and Writing which employ a workshop model. For students needing additional support, a variety of interventions are accessible, including Orton-Gillingham, Leveled Literacy Intervention, and Heggerty: Bridge to Reading. At the elementary, we utilize the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System to conduct reading running records multiple times per year. This comprehensive assessment allows educators to evaluate students' reading fluency, accuracy, and comprehension. By systematically monitoring these key areas, we can tailor our instruction to meet each student's individual needs, ensuring that all students develop strong reading skills and achieve their full potential. At the middle and high school levels, students explore texts from a variety of genres, historical periods, and places, ensuring a comprehensive approach to critically studying and interpreting literature.