Curriculum Up Close: Your Hall Pass Into English
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Step inside various FHSD classrooms with the Curriculum Up Close series! This is your “hall pass” into classrooms across the district, spanning different grade levels, to get an inside look into what students are learning. Our teachers and administrators work tirelessly to develop curriculum and lesson plans that engage and empower students to have the tools they need to excel.
Much of learning in FHSD is guided by each subject’s Course of Study, which outlines the curriculum and goals for students so that they accumulate skills portrayed in FHSD’s Portrait of a Learner.
The Curriculum Up Close series focuses on one core subject each month to spotlight the unique learning that happens within them. November spotlights English classes from the elementary to secondary levels. Join us as we step inside various English classes and see how teachers are creatively bringing their lessons to life:
Ms. Capouch and Mrs. Meltebrink- Kindergarten at Mercer Elementary
Kindergarten develops essential skills for future learning. In the first half of the school year, students take big leaps to settle into classroom routines and build foundations as young readers. In Ms. Capouch’s and Mrs. Meltebrink’s classrooms, the teachers guide students through station activities for them to practice key skills via teacher instruction, group work or independent activities.
Some of the activities in these stations include independent reading, writing practice with white boards, spelling-related puzzles and more. As kindergarteners make their way through each center, they also stopped to work with the teacher to focus on reading and other important skills.
Mrs. Mehring - Third Grade at Ayer Elementary
Third grade Falcons began the process of writing personal narratives. But first, the key to good writing is reading! Mrs. Mehring read students two different stories and sparked a discussion about what makes each story unique and interesting. Talking with partners and as a class, students explored the importance of sensory details and devices like similes. The conversations helped students understand the elements of a good story and how reading can make us better writers.
Mrs. Mayne - Eighth Grade at Nagel Middle School
Mrs. Mayne is working to develop critical thinkers in her English classes. She had her eighth graders select a book to analyze how point of view and character perspectives create effects such as suspense or humor. She guided students through their analysis, which began with answering questions on a notecard. Students identified the point of view their book is written in, summarized the events of the book and analyzed how much they have learned about the main character based on the book’s point of view.
With their notecards, these Nighthawks were then asked to create a video explaining their findings. They had to translate their notes into verbal explanations to develop clear communication skills alongside critical thinking.
Learn More about FHSD’s English Curriculum
FHSD’s English Language Arts curriculum guides instruction to encourage a lifelong appreciation for literacy and also empower students with the skills necessary for a literate life. This is possible through balanced instruction that takes a student-centered approach so that they are engaged in content, which includes extensive reading and writing experiences.
Find more information about FHSD’s curriculum in these district resources:
