Language Arts Curriculum
The Language Arts Curriculum is the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum. [You can access this curriculum on the Internet at mdk12.org.] Open Court Reading materials provide the basic texts for language arts instruction, supplemented with materials provided by the county. Open Court Classics and Junior Novels are also used.
It is our goal to provide rigorous instruction for all our students. To that end, Language Arts instruction is delivered in both large group and small groups. The basic lesson is taught to the large heterogeneous group. Follow-up, differentiated and flexible small groups receive instruction from the classroom teacher. These lessons may be for enrichment, intervention or review. The groups change in response to differing student needs. In addition, students may receive differentiated instruction from special educators, reading teachers, teaching assistants or parent volunteers.
Parent volunteers play an important role in language arts instruction. Many parents serve as a guest reader in their child’s classroom. Fluency tutors provide one-on-one practice to increase student oral reading fluency. Other volunteers are trained to work on sight words or letter names. Parents also assist with the reading incentive programs throughout the year.
Assessment of student learning occurs throughout the school year. Kindergarten and first grade are assessed using the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills [DIBELS], Teacher Observation of Learning [T.O.O.L.], and running records, to name a few. Students in grades two through five are given three county Language Arts Assessments spaced throughout the year. The Maryland School Assessment [MSA], the state-wide assessment, is administered to grades three, four and five. Grade two takes the Stanford 10 Primary 1 Reading Test.
If you have questions about your child’s reading and/or writing abilities, contact either your child’s teacher or one of the reading teachers. At Broadneck Elementary, we “Read to Succeed.”