ELA (English Language Arts)

Our Instructional Program

• All the components of the Balanced Literacy program will be implemented according to the standards. Teachers will use curriculum maps to drive instruction to ensure New York State standards are addressed. Teachers will develop and implement units of study in each of the required genres. A block of uninterrupted time (90-130 minutes per day) will be spent in literacy instruction. Readers and Writers Workshop are implemented daily. Teachers will model skills and strategies during mini-lessons. Reading and Writing will be done “to, with and by” the students daily. Teachers will differentiate instruction through small group instruction through small group instruction and individual conferences focused on one teaching point. Listening, speaking, reading and writing activities are incorporated into daily lesson plans. Teachers will work on developing vocabulary. Professional literature will be read and appropriate instructional plans will be developed. Classroom set-up is conducive to whole and small group instruction. Learning/Literacy centers are set up in the Early Childhood classrooms. Students are sent to these centers daily. Literacy is incorporated into all curriculum areas as well as all cluster programs:Art, Science and Technology.