Our instructional program in English Language Arts mirrors the rest of our program in its interdisciplinary, hand-on, and differentiated approach. From the time children are in our youngest classroom at the Pre-K level, they are exposed to a literacy and print-rich environment. Vocabulary-building and oral language skills are emphasized as children have a multitude of opportunities throughout their day to converse, discuss, even debate, with both adults and other students.

Children are given a language intensive experience in a literacy rich environment. In every area of the room, there are opportunities to use reading and writing skills, record information using clipboards and pencils, read books and write in journals. Fluency and vocabulary are reinforced within play.  Books are used for reference and to extend vocabulary. Literacy is extended beyond the classroom into the outdoors and the community.  When phonics is taught and strategies are given, this becomes a meaningful and relevant for each child.  For example, when a child wants to write a letter to his/her family and is looking to spell a word, the teacher uses scaffolding and other tools to help the child with invented spelling. The classroom is conducive to, and children are encouraged to read independently, to a group, teacher, or friend. Seeing oneself as a competent and successful reader and writer is very important in this area of development.

The learning environment plays a key role in this process where each classroom has tools and natural objects to support experimentation and study: microscopes, magnifying glasses, scales, journals, live plants, supplies for measuring, and weighing; and supplies for construction and building inventions. Other areas, such as the backyard garden and green space, and the surrounding community, are resources used to explore and teach science and ecology concepts.

RESOURCES WE USE

Formative Assessments: Classroom activities & projects are part of the assessment portfolio.

Work Sampling System: Speaking; listening; reading; writing and spelling. (Pre-K–Grade 5)

BENCHMARKS

Reading: K–2 – Fountas & Pennell; Grades 3–5 – DRAs

Writing: Lucy Calkins Units of Study in Writing – Rubrics & Assessments through Curriculum.

Assessments: NWEAs are taken in Grades 2–8, 3 times per year, in the subject areas of Mathematics, Reading, and Language. Maine Science testing is taken in Grades 5 and 8, once per year.