English Language Arts


Dr. Mary Albanese-Montero Supervisor of ELA 6-8 & Library Media K-12 [email protected] 201-915-6076	Maria Ameruoso Supervisor of ELA K-5 [email protected] 201-915-6685

Maureen Betz Supervisor of ELA K-5 [email protected] 201-915-6148	Erika Schulz Supervisor of ELA 9-12 [email protected] 201-915-6154

Clerk l Yvonne Banarez l [email protected] l 201-915-6178

Department Overview

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 various 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 to help them understand and enjoy complex works of literature.

The Jersey City Public Schools utilizes comprehensive, research-based reading programs that support the ELA curricula for grades K-12. The program addresses the newly revised 2023 New Jersey State Learning Standards and prepares students for the rigor of the NJSLA. It contains all the literacy components to effectively teach students to be successful readers, writers, speakers, and listeners, support social-emotional learning, and address all state mandates.

K-5 Curriculum

Students in grades K-5 utilize a comprehensive, research-based reading program that supports the ELA curricula for grades K-5. The program addresses the newly revised 2023 New Jersey State Learning Standards and prepares students for the rigor of the NJSLA. It contains all the literacy components to effectively teach students to be successful readers, writers, speakers, and listeners, supports social-emotional learning, and addresses all state mandates.

K-5 Curriculum

6-8 Curriculum

To become college - and career-ready, students in grades 6-8 of the English Language Arts course will learn through standards-driven curricula focusing on reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills. Through wide and deep reading of literature and literary nonfiction of steadily increasing rigor for each grade, 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.

Students will participate 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, mechanics, and 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, and summative assessments aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards will target instruction and monitor growth. This course will also integrate technology to support 21st-century learning and foster in-person and online learning as needed.

6-8 Curriculum

High School Curriculum

In grades 9-12, the district offers four core English Language Arts courses and four honors courses. Each grade-level ELA curriculum guide contains six units of study with diverse literature selections, essential questions, and writing instruction. The curricula are also aligned with the NJ mandates. The district has adopted StudySync, by McGraw Hill as a resource. Students in grades 9-12 receive Language Arts instruction for 45 minutes with mini-lessons aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for English Language Arts: reading, writing, and speaking. Numerous Language Arts electives are offered that further support the practice of these skills and give additional opportunities for students to engage in lessons centered around literature and writing.

Black Literature and Culture, Mythology, Shakespeare’s Major Works, Applied Journalism, World Literature, SAT Prep, Creative and Critical Writing, and Science Fiction Mystery and Horror are electives schools can choose to run throughout Jersey City. The District also offers AP courses: Advanced Placement English Language and Composition, Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition, and Advanced Placement Seminar, all of which are College Board-approved courses in which students can participate.

High School Curriculum

All course descriptions can be found in the district HS course catalog: HS Course Catalog

Core Courses	Electives	Advanced Placement Courses
English Language Arts 1	SAT Preparation	AP English Language and Composition
English Language Arts 2	Creative and Critical Writing	AP English Literature and Composition
English Language Arts 3	Applied Journalism, Newspaper & Technology	AP Seminar
English Language Arts 4	Black Literature and Culture
English Language Arts 1H	World Literature
English Language Arts 2H	Shakespeare’s Major Works
English Language Arts 3H	Mythology
English Language Arts 4H	Science Fiction, Mystery, and Horror 5 Science Fiction, Mystery, and Horror 2.5

District Approved Curriculum Resources

Website	Description
	Grades K-5: Students in grades K-5 utilize the Benchmark Advance program which focuses on building literacy through phonics, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and writing practice. is a comprehensive English Language Arts program designed to help students develop strong reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills. Through a blend of engaging texts, interactive lessons, and hands-on activities, children are exposed to a variety of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more. With differentiated instruction, Benchmark Advance meets students at their individual learning levels, helping every child grow and succeed academically. Parents can expect their children to be challenged, supported, and inspired as they progress through the curriculum.
	Grades K-12: A reading intervention program for grades K-12 that targets areas and comprehension skills where students struggle to achieve reading success, skill mastery, and grade-level expectations. The main goal of the English Language Arts reading intervention program is to provide targeted instruction based on a diagnostic assessment, increase fluency, and provide gradual growth in reading comprehension skills. The reading intervention program will be used throughout the school day and at home to provide students with ample opportunities to practice and regain learning loss due to the impact of the pandemic. The Renaissance Star K–12 (ELA) is a comprehensive assessment providing insights to guide academic growth. At the same time, the Renaissance Lalilo/Freckle intervention adapts for differentiated reading and ELA skills practice using nonfiction, fiction, and grammar standards with additional practice to build phonics and sight word fluency.
	Grades K-8: Renaissance myON® Reader is a student-centered, personalized literacy environment that gives students access to thousands of enhanced digital books. Titles are dynamically matched to each individual student’s interests, grade and Lexile® reading level. Combined with a suite of close reading tools and embedded supports, myON Reader fosters student engagement and achievement. myON has nonfiction and fiction texts geared towards beginning, struggling, and reluctant readers for grades Pre-K-12; for instance, 895 Chapter Books within the Core Library provided by Capstone Imprints.
	Grades 6-12: StudySync is a core instructional resource designed to meet the rigorous academic needs of the Jersey City middle school and high school students. In print or online, StudySync is designed to engage every student, integrating reading and writing using a blend of contemporary and classic literature. Skill lessons ensure students build foundational language and comprehension skills, as well as reading, writing, and research on inquiry skills daily. Resources are organized around a first read, a close read, and an associated skill lesson. ELL skill lessons emphasize explicit vocabulary instruction, language acquisition, and reading comprehension
	Grades 9-12: Newsela is an online platform that offers students the use of diverse, real-world content with rigorous standards-aligned assessments to practice skills without sacrificing engagement. Thousands of curated texts and videos help students build background knowledge on any topic, book, or theme covered in class. Newsela also supports students for whole-class, small-group, or individual literacy instruction with scaffolding tools like differentiated content at five reading levels.

District Approved Initiatives

Initiative	Description
Family Literacy Day	Grades K-8: The district-wide Family Literacy Day is an event where parents and children come together to celebrate the joy of reading and learning. This event offers children in grades K-8 and their families an opportunity to engage in activities that foster a love of literacy in a fun and interactive environment. Families can participate in a variety of hands-on experiences, allowing them to apply their understanding through visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing modalities.
Spelling Bee	Grades 3-8: Research shows that learning to spell and learning to read rely on much of the same underlying knowledge. Participating in the Spelling Bee allows for teachers to provide opportunities to teach spelling and motivate students to master the foundational skills that are needed to spell well. Students in grades 3-8 better understand the relationships between letters and sounds and how a proper understanding of spelling mechanics can lead to improved reading. The district sponsors all elementary and middle schools to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. In addition to entering the Scripps competition, student winners from each school will be eligible to participate in the Jersey City Public Schools. Elementary Bee for grades 3-5 and the Middle School Spelling Bee for grades 6-8.
Words-worth Poetry Event	Grades 9-12: Students will be able to participate in creative writing activities where students' voices are heard through their work with poetry during the annual Words-worth event, held at Hudson County Cultural Affairs exhibit. This initiative provides a platform for all participants to share their stories and explore their creativity through poetry.