English Language Arts Overview
The Harrison Township School District’s literacy program utilizes High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) aligned with the Science of Reading and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Our curriculum is intentionally designed to build strong literacy skills while expanding background knowledge in science, history, and the arts, key elements for deep comprehension and long-term academic success. State Standards
Our ELA Vision
Our goal is to foster strong readers, confident writers, and curious learners by combining explicit literacy instruction with rich content knowledge, preparing students for academic success and lifelong learning.
Grades K–2: Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA), 3rd Edition
In grades K–2, students receive core literacy instruction through Amplify CKLA, a research-based program built on two integrated components: Skills and Knowledge.
CKLA Skills Units (Foundational Reading Skills)
Students develop essential reading and writing skills through a structured, explicit progression that includes:
- Phonological and phonemic awareness
- Decoding and encoding (reading and spelling)
- Fluency development
Instruction includes direct teaching of the 150 spellings for the 44 sounds of the English language, ensuring a strong foundation for reading and writing.
CKLA Knowledge Domains (Content & Comprehension)
Through engaging, content-rich Read-Alouds, students build vocabulary and background knowledge across science, history, and the arts. This cumulative approach strengthens listening and reading comprehension while fostering curiosity and critical thinking.
Grades 3–6: Great Minds Wit & Wisdom
In grades 3–6, students engage in Wit & Wisdom, a knowledge-building ELA curriculum that integrates reading, writing, speaking, and listening around meaningful, real-world topics.
Each module is a six- to eight-week deep dive into high-interest content and includes:
- Close reading of complex literary and informational texts
- Daily discussions and writing grounded in evidence from texts
- Integration of visual art to deepen understanding
- Vocabulary and morphology instruction to build word knowledge and independence with complex texts
- See Modules at A Glance