The
English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum at the Amigos School is based on
the Language and Literacy Collaborative Framework in partnership with
Lesley University. This framework is the instructional design for best
practices in language and literacy teaching and learning in grades K-8.
It provides a structure within which teachers can accommodate the
varying needs of their students. It is a flexible framework that
integrates the range of reading, writing, and word study activities
essential for promoting literacy. It consists of three blocks (Language
and Word Study, Reading Workshop, and Writing Workshop) built around a
foundation of oral language. The teacher provides direct instruction
through very specific mini-lessons and guided learning in whole group
and small group settings.
The Language and Literacy framework
is particularly suited to a dual-language school, where teachers must
take into consideration their students’ native and second language
proficiency and tailor instruction to meet individual students’ needs.
The
Literacy Collaborative is a professional development program based at
the School of Education at Lesley University. In The Literacy
Collaborative, teachers learn classroom strategies and activities that
help develop students’ speaking, reading, and writing skills within a
language arts framework and across the curriculum. In K-6, some of every
school day is spent on Reading and Writing Workshops. The Literacy
Collaborative reading program emphasizes phonological awareness,
letter-sound correspondence, fluency and comprehension within the
context of reading meaningful texts.
As part of the Literacy
Collaborative, the Amigos School has a “Literacy Coordinator” who
participates in a training program at Lesley and collaborates with other
Amigos School teachers to review and update literacy instruction as
needed. The Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative at
Lesley supports the program with professional development opportunities
and materials.
For more information on The Literacy Collaborative, please click here.