1. Helen S. Comba English Language Arts Curriculum Presentation 2010

3.  Core Content State Standards (www.corestandards.org)www.corestandards.org  Adopted by New Jersey in June 2010  Curriculum documents revised summer 2010  Implementation of new documents 2010-2011  Purchase of Units of Study to support Writing Workshop  Review/purchase of materials 2010-2011

4. Components include:  Shared Reading  Guided Reading  Independent Reading  Word Study  Read Aloud  Writing Workshop  Writing Across the Curriculum  Technology

5. 20052010  Emphasis on literature  Explicit teaching of skills in isolation  Variation in topics taught by grade level  Little integration of reading and writing in curriculum documents  Balance of literature with informational text  Integration of language arts  Topics consistent across grade levels  Integration of reading and writing throughout curriculum documents

6. 2010 Curriculum Revision in English Language Arts represents documents that are…  Consistent across grade levels  Integrate the language arts  Offer a balance of instruction in reading and writing  Offer a balance between fiction and informational text; story writing and nonfiction writing skills

7. Reading Units  Reading Literature  Reading Informational Text  Independent Reading (Book Clubs, Literature Circles) Writing Units  Writing about experiences (personal narrative, fiction)  Writing about information (nonfiction writing, essays)  Writing across the curriculum (RAFT) Our curriculum revision reflects the Common Core State Standards.

8.  teach children how to write texts like other writers write- memoirs, stories, editorials, essays, poems- for an audience of readers, not just the teacher.  teach children to write with meaning (above all else).  Children are taught, explicitly, the skills and strategies of effective writing and the qualities of good writing.  Children are provided with opportunities to cycle through the writing process.

16. NJ ASK: Sample Expository Prompt(Grades 3-5) Most people have a special activity or hobby that they enjoy. Some people collect things while others like to read or play games. What activity do you like to do? Write a composition describing what you enjoy doing. Explain why that activity is special to you.

17.  Provide opportunities for your children to write at home.  Have writing materials (i.e., pens, pencils, notebooks and paper) available.  Show an interest in what your child is writing at school and at home.  Show your child how writing is a part of your life.  Understand that writing is a life skill and the “small moments” that they are writing now will get them there.