Language Arts
K-5 Language Arts Overview
Literacy education in District 70 strives to increase student performance in the areas of reading, writing, phonics, word study, grammar, and vocabulary.
District 70 has adopted Collaborative Classroom as the primary instructional resource for students in kindergarten and first grade. The program, developed by The Center for Collaborative Classroom, has three main components: Being a Reader, Being a Writer, and Making Meaning. Collaborative Classroom uses research-based best practices in education to build foundational skills and expose young students to rich literacy experiences during whole group and small group lessons.
- Being a Reader focuses on teaching students to read well and to love reading.
- Through Being a Writer, students build stamina and capacity while writing across a variety of genres.
- Comprehension strategies are the main focus in Making Meaning.
Through the use of the Collaborative Classroom program and materials, teachers engage and motivate students, develop critical thinkers, and promote reflection about learning and community.
Students in second through fifth grade, use Journeys by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as the primary resource for literacy instruction. Journeys is a research-based, comprehensive English Language Arts program aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards and developed by some of the leading experts in this field. The program offers students access to rich, complex texts in both print and digital form. Teachers are supplied with a multitude of materials for planning engaging whole class and small group lessons, integrating skills across literacy domains, and differentiating 21st century learning experiences for all learners.
Listen to an eighteen minute overview of the language arts materials that students are learning with in kindergarten through fifth grade. Kindergarten and first grade students will learn with resources from Collaborative Classroom while second through fifth grade students will learn with Journeys resources.
Kindergarten Scope and Sequence
1st Grade Scope and Sequence
2nd Grade Scope and Sequence
3rd Grade Scope and Sequence
4th Grade Scope and Sequence
5th Grade Scope and Sequence
6-8 Language Arts and Literature
Highland Middle School students use curriculum from HMH Into Literature.
For sixth grade:
The Language Arts course provides students with an introduction to grammar and mechanics, and their application. Students are taught the structure of writing for a variety of purposes. Word origins are presented to students. A collaborative environment is fostered to support classroom discussions and presentations.
The Literature course explores a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts. Elements of literature are introduced in short stories and novels. Students are trained to navigate through informational texts to extract main ideas, vocabulary, and cross-curricular connections.
For seventh grade:
The Language Arts course provides students with a review of grammar and mechanics. Students are given a variety of writing experiences. The established word origins are extended. A collaborative environment is fostered to support classroom discussions and presentations.
The Literature course explores a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts. Elements of literature are applied to short stories and novels. Students are trained to navigate through informational texts to extract main ideas, vocabulary, and cross-curricular connections.
For eighth grade:
The Language Arts course provides students with an application to grammar and mechanics in writing and contextual use. Students are taught the structure of literary analysis. Word origins are reinforced. A collaborative environment is fostered to support classroom discussions and presentations.
The Literature course explores a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts. Elements of literature are analyzed in short stories and novels. Students are trained to navigate through informational texts to extract main ideas, vocabulary, and cross-curricular connections.