5 ELA ELA AIS II
6 ELA ELA AIS III
7 ELA
8 ELA
The 5th grade balanced literacy program is a curricular methodology that integrates various modalities of literacy instruction, which are aimed at guiding students towards proficient and lifelong reading and writing. The balanced literacy approach is characterized by explicit skill instruction and by the use of authentic texts, incorporating opportunities for students to practice these skills alongside the teachers as well as independently.
An interdisciplinary approach best defines ELA in the 7th grade. Students use strategies in reading (novels, short stories, poetry & lyrics, and various non-fiction articles), writing (personal reflections, persuasive, narrative and research report), critical thinking & team-work (mock trial) to work toward taking the first step as secondary students. Highlights of the year include: reading The Last of the Mohicans, The Last of the Mohicans Guided History Tour, Colonial Days; Horror 101; The Mock Trial of Brom Bones; The Winter Unit; The Eagle of the 9th; and last, but not least, the Astrobiology Unit to end out the year!
Throughout 8th grade, students will develop their reading and writing skills by engaging with literature in a wide variety of genres and forms. Students will hone their writing skills through persuasive essays, research reports, creative writing, and informative writing. Outside reading selections will encourage 8th graders to appreciate literature on their own terms, while grammar & vocabulary review will strengthen their understanding of English on a technical level. By the end of the year, 8th graders will have a stronger understanding of the literary elements of narrative and nonfiction, and they will be able to express that understanding in a clear, coherent writing style.
In addition to the core curriculum, students in AIS II will receive small group instruction designed to help students meet New York State English Language Arts Standards.
Students in AIS III will receive targeted, supplemental reading instruction in an individualized or small group setting designed to accelerate the improvement of fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and/or phonics skills.
The English Language Arts program encompasses the Next Generation Learning Standards of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Our goal is to create lifelong learners by instilling a love of each in our students. Because vocabulary understanding is essential in this quest, our students learn 100 word parts that will help them decode hundreds of new words across the curriculum. Students read books of their choice throughout the year as well as chapter books of various genres as a class. They are asked to show their understanding via detailed journals, comprehension answers, careful note taking, drafted essays and creative presentations.