English Language Arts
Elementary
Our Collective Commitments
The following eight collective commitments are philosophical statements that underlie the standards and resources in our curriculum framework. They should guide the design and evaluation of English language arts and literacy programs. Programs guided by these principles will prepare students for colleges, careers, and their lives as productive citizens.
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We believe in explicit and systematic instruction in skills, including phonics and decoding, as well as language and comprehension strategies. Explicit skill instruction is especially important in narrowing opportunity gaps.
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We believe rich academic vocabulary and broad background knowledge are gatekeepers to reading comprehension.
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We believe students should experience:
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high quality works of literature and nonfiction
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read alouds across the school day
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ample opportunity and encouragement for sustained independent reading both for school and on their own
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We believe students should be immersed in complex and challenging texts at their grade level and above with extra support and scaffolding as needed, reflecting high expectations for all students.
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We will provide frequent opportunities for students to read, discuss, and write about diverse texts across genres, cultures, and time periods in order to demonstrate understanding and grow critical thinking skills.
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We believe developing the ability to write well demands regular practice across multiple forms and genres and opportunities to write for a variety of audiences, including expository, persuasive, narrative, and creative writing as well as explicit instruction in vocabulary and standard English conventions.
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We believe educators and families should view each other as resources who are both invested in supporting student’s skill in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
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We believe social and emotional learning increases academic achievement, improves behaviors and capacity to self-regulate, and reduces emotional distress. It is important for students to recognize aspects of themselves in texts (self-awareness), struggle productively with challenging texts (self-management), tailor language to audience and purpose (social awareness), grapple with choices faced by others (responsible decision making), and collaborate respectfully with diverse peers (relationship skills).
Curriculum
Family Resources
Module-level tip sheets from Wit & Wisdom provide module content, a list of all texts students will read in the module, sample questions to ask, and other activities to extend students' thinking at home can be found below.
- Grade K (Grado K)
- Grade 1 (Grado 1)
- Grade 2 (Grado 2)
- Grade 3 (Grado 3)
- Grade 4 (Grado 4)
- Grade 5 (Grado 5)
UFLI Foundations includes Home Practice sheets to help families support their child’s learning at home. Families can use these paper tiles as manipulative letters for home practice with word work. Printing them on card stock makes them easier to use.
Secondary
Curriculum
Middle
High
- 1000/1010* English Language Arts 9
- 1020/*1030 English Language Arts 10
- 1060 21st Century Literacy
- 1110 American Literature & Composition
- 1120 AP English Language and Composition
- 1250 Senior Communication
- 1260 World Literature and Composition
- 1270 AP English Literature & Composition
- 1290 Written Communication
- 1300 Creative Writing 1
- 1310 Creative Writing 2
- 1311 Creative Writing 3
- 1320 Genre Study: Literature and Composition
- 1330 Journalism 1
- 1400 Film Studies
- 1600 Interpersonal Communication
- 3030E/3030H American Studies
- 3060E AP American Studies (AP English Language and Composition)