ELA Curriculum
At Eastport-South Manor, we are committed to making every child a strong, lifelong reader and writer. Our K-12 literacy program is built on the science of reading, a research-backed approach that is fully aligned with the new New York State literacy initiative and law.
The Five Essential Pillars of Literacy
Our program focuses on the five key components of reading:
- Phonemic Awareness: Understanding the individual sounds in words.
- Phonics: Connecting those sounds to letters and learning to decode words.
- Fluency: Reading accurately and with expression.
- Vocabulary: Building a strong knowledge of words.
- Comprehension: Understanding the meaning of what is being read.
We provide systematic and explicit instruction in each of these areas, starting with foundational skills like phonics. Our students learn with carefully sequenced decodable texts that are integrated into our curriculum. This evidence-based approach gives students the tools they need to confidently decode words, understand language structure, and tackle more complex texts on their own.
Building Knowledge and Skills
Our curriculum is designed to be engaging and knowledge-rich. At each grade level, students explore themes in science, social studies, and social-emotional learning. This approach is based on the idea that knowledge builds knowledge, meaning the more children learn about the world, the better they will understand what they read.
Skills are taught using a gradual release method, which moves students from guided practice to independent application. This research-based framework uses explicit teaching, modeling, and scaffolded support to ensure students can successfully apply what they've learned.
Personalized and Purposeful Learning
Students also engage with authentic texts and writing tasks that reflect what they might encounter outside the classroom. This encourages them to explore different genres, express themselves through writing, and collaborate with their peers, all while developing a love for language.
We use i-Ready assessments to provide teachers with actionable data to ensure every student gets the support they need. Our approach is also guided by the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and culturally responsive pedagogy, ensuring that our program works for every student, regardless of their background or learning needs.
This multifaceted program helps our students become skilled, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic readers who are prepared for success in all academic areas and beyond.