Reading

Purpose: The ability to read is essential for students to succeed as learners, both in school and throughout their lives, and to become contributing members of society. Students must be able to deal critically with a variety of complex texts including literary, informational, and practical. Good readers combine the inclination to read with the ability to use monitoring and discussion to develop understanding. They employ multiple strategies and processes to understand the written word. Throughout their formal instruction, students should read authentic materials including worthy examples of literature as well as texts that reinforce other content areas of the school’s curriculum.

Writing

Purpose: Through writing students transmit information, construct and communicate good ideas. Good writers employ language successfully in a wide range of settings for academic, personal, occupational, and public uses. Frequent writing practice across a variety of situations and tasks and in all content areas enables students to refine and expand both their knowledge base and their thinking skills.

English Language Uses

Purpose: Students needs to learn how to use language to communicate in multiple ways and for multiple purposes. To this end, the language processes of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing must become integral parts of their lives. By systematically employing these interactive processes, students are able to gather needed information and to prioritize and organize this material. The skillful use of these language processes provides students with the means of acquiring, constructing, and expressing knowledge in all school content areas and in the human experience. In order to be successful, students must become powerful users of language.