Welcome to the English Language Arts curriculum page!  Please click on the links to the right for more information.

K-12 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS PHILOSOPHY

The Bernards Township School District is committed to fostering literacy and communication competency so students can successfully understand and actively participate in our complex modern world.

In order to develop effective communication skills, appreciation of the written/spoken word and enthusiasm for the language, the language arts program integrates reading, writing, listening, speaking and writing. The literature-based, developmentally appropriate, student-centered curriculum provides essential program integration. Acknowledging the student’s risk-taking efforts as indicators of growth and encouraging student decision making/problem solving helps students become life-long strategic learners. To keep pace with globalization, technological advancements, and research on cognitive development, the curriculum implements effective teaching strategies. These strategies provide creative, unique and authentic language arts experiences to accommodate various learning styles.

The Bernards Township School District is committed to the creation of student-centered classrooms. This environment nurtures the appreciation of language arts, encourages ownership of individual learning and enhances self-esteem through dynamic interaction with our language.

CURRICULUM REVISIONS

 During the summer of 2012, all required English Language Arts courses were aligned with the Common Core State Standards (see link on the right).  Significant revisions were made to the following curricula:  Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Sixth Grade (both Reading and English, Tenth Grade (both American Literature and Honors American Literature) and Eleventh Grade (both British Literature and Honors British Literature).  During the course of the 2012-2013 school year, the district will be reviewing the English Language Arts curricula for the upper elementary grades (3-5), upper middle school grades (7-8), freshman and senior years in order to prepare for a substantial revision in the summer of 2013.