FHSD Curriculum Up Close: English Language Arts

The Curriculum Up Close series shares a view inside classrooms across FHSD, showing what students are learning and how teachers are implementing innovative lessons to make learning impactful. During the month of September, we focused on English Language Arts!  

Ms. Taylor - Second Grade at Wilson Elementary 

Ms. Taylor gathered her students on the carpet to read a story - but before beginning, they went through new vocabulary words they were going to find in the book. Using a thoughtful and intentional method, Ms. Taylor guided her second graders through the new words: first, instructing them to look at pictures of the words, then having them read the words. Finally, student volunteers matched the words to their pictures. 

After completing the vocabulary introductions, Ms. Taylor read “Girl Wonder” by Deborah Hopkinson. Throughout the story, second graders would make hand signals to indicate when they heard one of their new vocabulary words. They also used turn and talk time to get comfortable with making predictions, a new concept for them, and discuss what they liked about the story.

Mrs. Thorp - Fifth Grade at Sherwood Elementary 

After Mrs. Thorp’s class finished reading their book “My Teacher Is an Alien” by Bruce Coville,  fifth graders switched gears from reading to writing and began thinking about creative writing prompts related to their book, tapping into their creativity. Students discussed prompts and ideas presented by Mrs. Thorp, then generated their own prompts with their classmates. Some of the prompts suggested by Mrs. Thorp included:

• Write a letter to an alien from another planet. Tell the alien three things they should know about Earth. 
• Create an alien planet. Be descriptive. What does it look like? What is it made of? Draw an image with your writing. 
•  Make your own science fiction adventure story. Do a quick brainstorm to see where this idea takes you. 

After lively and creative conversation with each other, fifth graders shared some of their ideas for writing prompts: 

• Get Ready With Me: Alien Edition
• An alien abduction story
• Design an alien ship through words 

Students are being encouraged to think creatively and beyond what is on the board. After their class discussion, students had Open Studio time to write with some of their new prompts or engage in silent reading. 

Ms. Renard - English III at Anderson High School 

The first 10 minutes of English III begins the same way every day. Juniors in Mrs. Renard’s class pull out their books, turn to bookmarked pages with quiet curiosity and begin their independent reading time. Students read titles that interest them, and Mrs. Renard helps foster a love for reading. 

However, to connect students with genres they may otherwise avoid, Mrs. Renard reads the first chapter of different books on Fridays at the beginning of independent reading time, deemed First Chapter Friday. 

During First Chapter Friday, Mrs. Renard uses approximately the first five minutes of class to read the beginnings of different books. Students are encouraged to take notes, doodle or record any of their thoughts while Mrs. Renard reads aloud. Then, once the first chapter is finished, students can add the book to their TBR (to be read) list in the back of their classroom notebooks. 

One of the First Chapter Friday books featured was “The Maidens” by Alex Michaelides.