ELA & Humanities

Our vision is to provide a rigorous and engaging humanities education that prepares all students to be critical thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and active citizens. 

We will do this by embedding transferable skills, authentic practice, and culturally responsive pedagogy throughout our curriculum, grounded in a sense of purpose and meaning. We will achieve our vision by:

• Offering a balanced and comprehensive humanities curriculum that includes culturally-relevant rich fiction and non-fiction texts.
• Employing science of reading techniques to ensure that all students are able to read fluently and comprehend complex texts.
• Using differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
• Creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where all students feel safe to express themselves and learn from each other.
• Partnering with families and the community to support student learning.

The English/Language Arts/ Humanities program aims to prepare our students to be critical thinkers, purposeful readers and expressive, effective communicators. Throughout their elementary school years, students will engage in reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities that foster creativity, critical thinking, and a love for learning. These skills will form a strong foundation for their future academic endeavors in English Language Arts and Humanities.

The ELA/Humanities program is based on the following principles:

• Language is a tool for communication. Students learn to use language to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
• Reading is a process of meaning-making. Students learn to read for understanding by actively engaging with the text.
• Writing is a process of self-expression. Students learn to write for a variety of purposes, including to inform, persuade, and entertain.
• Speaking and listening are essential communication skills. Students learn to speak and listen effectively in a variety of contexts.

The ELA/Humanities program is implemented through a variety of instructional strategies, including:
 

• Reading aloud. Students are read aloud to by the teacher and other adults. This helps them develop a love of reading and learn about different genres of literature.
• Shared reading. Students read a text together with the teacher. This helps them develop fluency and comprehension skills.
• Guided reading. Students are grouped according to their reading levels and receive instruction and support from the teacher. This helps them develop fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills.
• Independent reading. Students read on their own. This helps them practice fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills.
• Writing. Students are given opportunities to write in a variety of genres, including narrative, expository, and persuasive writing. They are also given opportunities to revise and edit their writing.
• Speaking and listening. Students are given opportunities to speak and listen in a variety of contexts, including class discussions, presentations, and debates.
   

The ELA/ Humanities program is assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Formative assessments. These assessments are used to provide feedback to students and teachers on their progress.
• Summative assessments. These assessments are used to measure student achievement at the end of a unit or grade level.

The ELA program is an important part of a well-rounded education. By developing students' literacy skills, the ELA program helps them become lifelong learners who can communicate effectively in a variety of contexts.