Enhancing LS Language Arts
This year we have implemented two new curricula to enhance our Lower School Language Arts program: The Wilson Fundations Program and The Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing by Lucy Calkins. These programs are a wonderful fit with our existing program and educational philosophy. While the content and concepts presented in the curricula have always been taught in our classrooms, adopting these formal programs provides our students with a shared vocabulary, sequential strategies, and a seamless scope and sequence for Grades PK – 5.
Fundations is a multisensory and systematic phonics, spelling, and handwriting program for our PK-2 students. Informed by an extensive research base, Fundations systematically and comprehensively instructs students in phonemic awareness and word study as well as contributes greatly to fluency, vocabulary development, and the applications of strategies for understanding text. Additionally, Fundations sets the foundation for writing by directly teaching handwriting, the study of English orthography for spelling, and the basic skills for capitalization and punctuation.
The Units of Study in Opinion, Information and Narrative Writing is an instructional framework that engages students in the writing process. Through this iterative process, students learn to pre-write, draft, revise, and edit before they publish their final draft. Using the writing workshop model, students engage in three types of writing genres: narrative, opinion, and informational. The workshop model is designed to help students become confident and capable writers. Teachers present explicit strategies that students apply to their writing during each class period’s mini-lesson. Afterwards students independently work on their writing piece while teachers move around the room to conference with one or a group of students. Many of workshop lessons end with a share. Students read a portion of their writing to the class where they may receive suggestions and/or a “Bravo!” Sharing writing samples allow students to learn from each other and see themselves as serious writers. This approach allows students to share in a common skill or writing strategy, and at the same time work at differentiated stages of their writing development.
While these two programs are new to Brimmer, the teaching of phonics and writing are not. These have been mainstays of Brimmer’s language arts curriculum, and important cornerstones to any comprehensive scope and sequence. Our teachers have been fully trained in both phonics and writing instruction, and it has been a pleasure seeing how they have brought these two new curricula to life in the classroom. Throughout the Lower School, one will see students who are curious and engaged, excited to learn, and developing critical reading and writing skills.
Brimmer and May School
69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
As an inclusive private school community, Brimmer welcomes students who will increase the diversity of our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected from discrimination under state or federal law, in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, financial aid decisions, and athletic and other school-administered programs.