Literacy
The Winnetka Literacy curriculum is aligned to the Illinois Common Core State Standards.
The District Literacy Instructional Framework is the foundation of the Literacy Curriculum and provides District-wide instructional guidelines for literacy which includes instruction in reading, writing, and language. The Literacy Instructional Framework mirrors the strands articulated in the Common Core ELA Standards. These strands include reading (phonological awareness, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension), writing, and oral language.
In the fall of 2024, The Winnetka Public Schools began implementation of a new literacy curriculum. The curriculum was approved by the School Board in April of 2024 following 18 months of professional learning and research, piloting materials, and reviewing data.
Students in grades K-5 will be engaging with American Reading Company (ARC) and Institute of Multi-sensory Education (IMSE) units. Students in grade 6 will also engage with American Reading Company (ARC) units, while students in grades 7 and 8 will utilize CommonLit. Students and teachers who participated in the pilot of these materials found them to be engaging and support literacy skill acquisition and mastery.
What are the new features of the programming?
This new curriculum is includes the following key features:
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Systematic phonemic awareness and word recognition instruction and assessment
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Knowledge building framework to provide content for applying reading and writing skills
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Classroom based data to inform student learning goals and differentiate instruction
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Consistent implementation of current best practice in literacy instruction
The current best practice in literacy instruction the new programming addresses are depicted in the images below. Learning goals and instruction in the areas of reading and writing are broken down into specific skills to support student growth in literacy:
In order to support students in acquiring the skills above, the programming has two components
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Foundational Skills
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Knowledge Building
Foundational Skills apply to students in grades K-5, as described by the Common Core State Standards. This includes basic reading skills such as letter recognition and letter sounds. In grades 3-5 learning goals expand to include prefixes, suffixes, Latin and Greek roots.
Knowledge Building is the core of K-8 programming. Using their Foundational Skills, students combine reading and writing with background knowledge on science, social studies, and the arts. This allows students context to apply skills and is not intended to replace current programming in these areas.
What materials are being used to deliver programming?
Foundational Skills
The Institute of Multi-sensory Education (IMSE) is separated into two distinct programs. Grades K-2 include learning basic concepts such as letter sounds, vowels, syllables, compound words, and “red words” which are words that do not follow the patterns taught in the listed concepts. Grades 3-5 build upon that learning by focusing on prefixes, suffixes, Latin and Greek roots.
Knowledge Building
The American Reading Company (ARC) begins with the Literacy Lab for grades K-5. This is a time when learning routines are established and teachers are able to get an initial understanding of current student performance in the areas of reading and writing. Following this first unit, each grade level has three units based on a theme.
Kindergarten- Zoology, Ecology, Entomology
1st- Wild & Endangered Animals, Family Stories, Plants
2nd- Bugs, Animal Stories, Join My Community
3rd- Weather & Climate, Traditional Tales, Marine Life
4th- Animal Adaptations, American Historical Fiction), Sports and Society
5th- Ecosystems, Adventure, Civil War
6th- World Mythology, Geology, Fantasy, World Civilizations
CommonLit offers teachers options for which units to implement. The units below include both CommonLit units, as well as those rooted in existing practice of integration with other content areas and Project-Based Learning (PBL). The CommonLit* units are marked with an asterisk.
7th- Community and Belonging*, Adolescence*, The Outsiders*, Memoir, Social Media Risks and Rewards*, Dystopia (PBL)
8th- The Art of Suspense*, Social Justice (PBL), Debate Over School Start Time*, Shakespeare*, Not That Different*, World War II (Integrated Unit w/ Social Studies)
Where can I learn more?
The Winnetka Parent Institute Event on September 11, 2024 provided a deeper look into the new program. The recorded event and slides are available on the District website; click here for direct access.
