The English Language Arts curriculum fosters thoughtful student engagement, collaboration, ownership, and reflection which cultivate effective communicators who pursue lifelong learning. Through the integrated K-8 curriculum (reading, writing, language, speaking and listening) students will:
District 181 is adopting the Fountas & Pinnell Classroom (FPC) resource this year. FPC is a coherent literacy system that uses authentic texts and a multi-text approach. The program uses a balanced literacy model which includes interactive read-aloud, shared reading, reading mini-lessons, guided reading, book clubs, independent reading and phonics/spelling/word study. A description of each instructional context is provided below.
Interactive Read Aloud (IRA): Interactive read aloud is completed together with the whole class. During this time, a collection of the very best age appropriate, grade-appropriate trade books are used to promote the joy of reading, expand vocabulary, and nurture the ability to think, talk and write about texts that fully engage the students’ interests.
Shared Reading: Shared reading is also done as a whole class. A collection of original texts are used to nurture students’ abilities to construct meaning in a supported context so that they can enjoy reading and learn critical concepts of how texts work.
Reading Mini-Lessons: Reading mini-lessons are completed with the entire class as well. These lessons are brief and practical and focus on the topics of management, literary analysis, strategies and skills and writing about reading.
Guided Reading: Guided reading is done in small groups. During this time, powerful and engaging authentic, original texts are used to build each student’s ability to process increasingly challenging books with fluency and comprehension. Guided reading begins in early October after pre-assessments are completed and routines are set up.
Book Clubs: Book clubs are completed in small groups. Book clubs provide an authentic opportunity to bring students together for in-depth discussion of a captivating trade book they have read in order to extend thinking and learn about themselves as readers.
Independent Reading: Students are provided with time to read independently during class. This provides children with the opportunity to develop tastes as readers and to read a large number of self-selected books independently. Teachers confer with students during this time to make specific teaching points.
Phonics, Spelling and Word Study: Explicit lessons are taught in whole-group and small-group settings to help students explore, attend to, learn about and efficiently use sounds, letters and words.
Writing Units:
Unit 1: Informative/explanatory essays
Unit 2: Narrative essays
Unit 3: Opinion essays
Unit 4: Narrative essays
Unit 5: Informative/explanatory essays
In writing, students will learn how to:
Language Skills: