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English Language Arts

English Language Arts

Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening

 

Literacy is the foundation for learning, expression, and connection. Rooted in the California ELA/ELD Framework, our approach to English Language Arts instruction ensures students develop as confident, capable, and curious readers, writers, and communicators. We are committed to daily, intentional experiences that build language and literacy through rich texts, purposeful talk, and meaningful writing. Our vision centers on four key principles that shape how students experience literacy in our classrooms.

 

  1. Meaning-Making and Knowledge-Building
    Students learn to read, write, speak, and listen in ways that deepen understanding of themselves, others, and the world. Reading and writing are taught as processes grounded in authentic purposes—reading to learn, to connect, and to question; writing to express, to argue, and to explore ideas. Teachers design instruction that fosters curiosity and inquiry, helping students discover that literacy is not a set of isolated skills, but a way of making meaning and participating in the world.
     
  2. Explicit Instruction and Meaningful Language Development
    Reading and writing development depends on strong language and foundational skills. Early literacy skills, including phonemic awareness and phonics, are taught explicitly and systematically to build accurate and automatic word recognition. Students learn about key aspects of language—including vocabulary, syntax and grammar, morphology, and pragmatics—through explicit instruction, using examples from authentic texts and their own writing. Language and foundational skills are taught in connection with meaningful reading and writing, so students understand how language works and how to apply it in flexible, purposeful ways.

 

  1. Daily Practice with Reading and Writing
    Students become literate by reading and writing every day. Our classrooms provide opportunities to engage with texts for a range of purposes. Students read independently and with peers, they study texts as models, and they explore language and structure. Students write frequently for real audiences and varied purposes, learning to craft their ideas clearly and powerfully. Teachers model, guide, and provide time for students to apply what they learn, building independence and confidence over time.
     
  2. Building Ideas Together
    Literacy grows through talk. Students are taught to engage in meaningful conversations: sharing interpretations, debating ideas, and listening actively. These discussions support comprehension, deepen understanding, and foster a sense of belonging. Teachers intentionally create inclusive environments where every student’s voice is heard, and where collaboration strengthens both thinking and community.

 

In LASD, literacy instruction is purposeful, inclusive, and responsive. Every student is supported to grow as a reader, writer, and communicator through meaningful texts, explicit teaching, and rich opportunities to think, collaborate, and express themselves.

 

Development Across the Grades

English Language Arts

PK - 2nd Grade

Children develop foundational literacy skills through joyful, language-rich experiences. They begin to understand how spoken and written language work—playing with sounds, learning letters and words, and starting to decode simple texts. They explore ideas through drawing, dictation, labeling, and early attempts at writing. Speaking and listening develop through story time, conversation, play, and collaborative activities. As they experience success and connection through literacy, children begin to see themselves as readers, writers, and communicators, motivated by a natural desire to understand and share their world.

3rd - 5th Grades

Students strengthen their fluency and comprehension, reading more complex texts to build knowledge and deepen understanding. Writing becomes more structured and purposeful as students learn to organize and support their ideas. They explore different genres, write for real audiences, and revise with intention. Speaking and listening become more deliberate as students discuss texts, present ideas, and learn from others. This is a time when many learners develop a lasting sense of agency and joy in literacy, fueled by growing confidence and opportunities to use reading, writing, and discussion to explore meaningful topics.

6th - 8th Grades

Students refine their literacy skills and apply them in analytical and purposeful ways. They read across genres and disciplines, interpreting texts, evaluating claims, and drawing connections. Writing becomes a tool for argument, analysis, and reflection as students craft pieces for diverse purposes and audiences. Speaking and listening support deeper thinking through collaborative dialogue, debate, and presentation. As students grow in independence, they pursue their own interests and questions, using literacy as a means of inquiry, self-expression, and civic participation. Their motivation increasingly comes from within, as they discover the power of their voice and the relevance of what they read, write, and say.

 

Helpful Resources

California ELA/ELD Framework

ELA Standards

ELD Standards