English Language Arts
The 2011Massachusetts Framework for English Language Arts and Literacy is in the hands of every Pittsfield Public School teacher at this point. The 2011-2012 school year is a cross over year, in that we need to teach the standards that overlap in each grade—and then fill in the gaps and raise the rigor of the reading levels of both literature and informational text for full implementation in September 2012.
We have begun the development of Curriculum Guides to for this roll-out of the new Framework. The work is fluid, but will follow a template and address the scope and sequence of teaching and learning for all of our students as we write a comprehensive curriculum for Pittsfield Public School students.
For English Language Arts and Content Literacy, the following habits of life-long learners are underlying our curriculum development. It is the intention that students, through a deliberate study of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language can:
- Demonstrate independence
- Build strong content knowledge
- Respond to the varying demands of audience, task, purpose, and discipline
- Comprehend as well as critique
- Value evidence
- Use technology and digital media strategically and capably
- Understand other perspectives and cultures
View the Massachusetts Early Literacy Action Plan here
View the Massachusetts District Literacy Action Plan here
Massachusetts Frameworks