ACADEMICS

Language Arts and Reading Program

 

  • North Park Elementary School teachers use the Reading and Writing Workshop approach to develop skills for reading and writing while also building student proficiency and stamina in both areas.
  • North Park Elementary School has contracted with the Chicago Literacy Group to provide on-going professional development to all literacy teachers throughout the year.  A literacy coach will be visiting literacy classes regularly to provide one-on-one coaching and individual feedback on workshop teaching methods and strategies.
  • Teachers supplement the Reading and Writing Workshop approach with spelling, word-study, and grammar lessons. 
  • The strands inherent within the program include: writing, reading (independent reading, read-alouds, readers’ theatre, guided reading, shared reading), spelling, phonics (K-2), word-study/ vocabulary, grammar and handwriting (K-4).
  • The scope and sequence is based on the National Council of Teachers of English Standards as well as the Illinois State Standards. 
  • Essential Units have been chosen for each grade.  As a result, the program is spiraled K-8.  For example, students work on narrative writing in a different, more advanced format alternating years.
  • The Benefits of a Reading and Writing Workshop include:

INDEPENDENCE: students can develop the independence they crave during choice time when students work alone, in pairs, or in small groups.

GUIDED PRACTICE: The blocks of time available during a workshop allow students to practice and apply strategies and skills to new materials under expert guidance of you, the teacher.

SOCIAL ASPECTS OF LEARNING: Talking to and hanging out with friends is what all students enjoy.

FLEXIBLE GROUPING: Students learn to work independently allowing teachers to meet with individuals or small groups.

  • The curriculum is primarily based on selected professional books including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Atwell, Nancie. In the Middle: New Understandings About Writing, Reading, and Learning. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook, 1998.
  • Atwell, Nancie.  Lessons That Change Writers: Lessons with 3-Ring Binder. Heinemann, Portsmouth, NH. 2002.
  • Calkins, Lucy McCormick. The Art of Teaching Reading. Longman, NY. 2001.
  • Calkins, Lucy McCormick.  The Art of Teaching Writing. Longman, NY. 1994.
  • Calkins, Lucy McCormick.  Launching an Intermediate Reading Workshop: Getting Started with Units of Study for Teaching Reading, Grades 3-5. Heinneman, NY. 2010.
  • Calkins, Lucy McCormick.  Units of Study for Primary Writing: A Yearlong Curriculum. Heinneman, NY. 2001.
  • Calkins, Lucy McCormick, Marjorie Martinelli, et al.  Units of Study for Teaching Writing (Grades 3-5). Heinneman, NY. 2007.
  • Calkins, Lucy McCormick, Marjorie Martinelli, et al.  Units of Study for Teaching Reading: Curriculum for the Reading Workshop (Grades 3-5). Heinneman, NY. 2010.
  • Fountas, Irene C. and Gay Su Pinnell. The Continuum of Literacy Learning: Grades PreK-2. Heinemann, Portsmouth, NH. 2011.
  • Fountas, Irene C. and Gay Su Pinnell. The Continuum of Literacy Learning: Grades 3-8. Heinemann, Portsmouth, NH. 2011.
  • Fountas, Irene C. and Gay Su Pinnell. Phonics Lessons, Bundle, Grade K. Portsmouth, NH. 2011.
  • Fountas, Irene C. and Gay Su Pinnell. Phonics Lessons, Bundle, Grade 1. Portsmouth, NH. 2011.
  • Fountas, Irene C. and Gay Su Pinnell. Phonics Lessons, Bundle, Grade 2. Portsmouth, NH. 2011.
  • Handwriting Without Tears, 2011 (K-4) Sitton, Rebecca. 3rd Ed. 2006 (3-8)