English Language Arts

The English Language Arts program in grades K-12 is designed to prepare all students to read, write, speak, listen, and use language effectively in a variety of content areas and to promote the literacy skills and concepts required for college and career readiness in multiple disciplines. The skills and knowledge acquired from the ELA/literacy program are designed to prepare students for life outside the classroom. They include critical-thinking skills and the ability to closely and attentively read texts in a way that will help them understand and enjoy complex works of literature. Students will learn to use cogent reasoning and evidence collection skills that are essential for success in college, career, and life.

Curriculum Overview

Grades K-5

Benchmark Advance/Adelante is a K–5 standards-based, core ELA program in English and Spanish.  It provides a cohesive framework for the development of literacy skills and content knowledge over time. This framework reflects scientific evidence about how children learn to read and expand their proficiency in the areas of phonological awareness, phonics and word study, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Benchmark Advance/Adelante includes 10 vertically aligned knowledge-building units per grade level. Each unit provides three weeks of focused literacy instruction around a science, social studies, or ELA topic and includes a core set of complex grade-level texts as well as read-alouds and differentiated small-group texts that support this topic. Each grade has a balance of informational and literary texts.

Benchmark Advance/Adelante 2021 materials reflect the belief that equity, social-emotional development, and academic development go hand in hand and are mutually reinforcing. The whole- and small-group texts students read reflect diverse cultures, traditions, dialects, gender, ability, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Characters are represented in non-stereotypical, positive, affirming roles and situations in both fiction and nonfiction texts. Students see themselves in the narrative and prose as well as in the photographs and illustrations of the books they read. They encounter historical events from multiple perspectives.

During whole-group instruction, students listen to, read, reread, analyze, and write about the complex texts to build and demonstrate their knowledge around the topic. During small-group instruction, students reread complex texts and/or differentiated texts and readers theater on the same topic and focus on specific instructional needs. During independent reading, students have opportunities to self-select additional texts and reread print and digital resources to increase fluency and comprehension.

comprehension.

Grades 6 - 8

To become college and career ready, students in the sixth grade English Language Arts course will engage in learning through the use of a standards-driven curriculum focusing on reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills.  Through wide and deep reading of literature and literary nonfiction of steadily increasing rigor for grades 6-8, students will gain knowledge and the ability to evaluate complex texts. Students will learn to use writing to communicate clearly to an external, sometimes unfamiliar audience, and adapt the form and content of their writing to accomplish a particular task and purpose. 

Grade 6-8 students will take part in a variety of rich, structured conversations—as part of a whole class, in small groups, and with a partner. Being productive members of these conversations requires that students contribute accurate, relevant information; respond to and develop what others have said; make comparisons and contrasts; and analyze and synthesize a multitude of ideas in various domains. Students will learn to master the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, and mechanics as well as learn other ways to use language to convey meaning effectively. An emphasis on the Language standards for Grades 6-8 will also support vocabulary instruction through reading, writing, speaking, and listening in this course. Pre assessments, formative assessments, and summative assessments aligned to the Grades 6-8 ELA standards will be used to target instruction and monitor growth. This course will also integrate technology to support 21st century learning, as well as fostering in-person and online learning as needed.

Grades 9-12

The study of English Language Arts in grades 9-12 focuses on core ELA units that take students through literacy and informational texts that explore  how individuals are affected by their choices, journeys and interactions with others. Students also focus on the writing process: Plan, Draft,  Revise, Edit and Publish. Students will revise their piece during each step of the Extended Writing Process, utilizing a student model as a  guide for each step of the process. Students will also have skills lessons in specific language conventions that allow them to learn, practice  and apply their understanding of grammar concepts to the editing of their own writing projects.  

English 1-4 Honors focuses on core ELA units that take students through literacy and informational texts that explore how individuals are  affected by their choices, journeys and interactions with others. The honor course has a rigorous approach to reading and challenges the  students with additional novels, extension activities and Pre- AP skills. Students also focus on the writing process: Plan, Draft, Revise, Edit  and Publish.

District Programs

The core programs in grades K-5 and 6-12 provide explicit instruction on literary genre & elements, writing genre, reading strategies, vocabulary, writing strategies and writing convention within the Reading & Writing Workshop structure. Teachers conduct think-alouds to model strategic thinking for reading and writing. Teachers work along with students to offer guided practice, and students work independently to practice on their own and to demonstrate understanding.

Student Opportunities 

• Jersey City Public Schools has a partnership with Dramatic Impact. It is an in-school literacy program, helping young students become better readers and writers, as well as, socially mature individuals.
• College Board Student Ambassador Program: grades 9-12. Click the link to view the 2018-2019 Jersey City Public Schools District video! Get involved in the College Board Student Ambassador Program at your High School. 
• Poetry Out Loud - National Recitation Contest: grades 9-12. Click the link to view a video of winner, Joseph G. Kim Sexton, from the  2019 contest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PonbEcSal6g
• Scripps National Spelling Bee: Grades 3-8
• District Humanities Saturday AP Academy - Open to all JCPS AP students (ELA and Social Studies)

Resources