K-12 Language Arts
Literacy Philosophy
The Portland Public School's philosophy of literacy embraces the objectives of effective literacy teaching and learning, utilizing an explicit PreK-12 plan that reflects this philosophy.
Teaching students to read is the top priority for Portland Public Schools. To achieve success in developing strong literacy skills that contribute to a student's ability to make personal connections to the world, the district supports a comprehensive literacy plan. This plan includes explicit strategies in literacy skills, reading comprehension, writing techniques, speaking and listening practices, as well as on-going authentic assessment beyond standardized testing.
To accomplish the district goal of providing quality literacy instruction, our schools will:
Teaching students to read is the top priority for Portland Public Schools. To achieve success in developing strong literacy skills that contribute to a student's ability to make personal connections to the world, the district supports a comprehensive literacy plan. This plan includes explicit strategies in literacy skills, reading comprehension, writing techniques, speaking and listening practices, as well as on-going authentic assessment beyond standardized testing.
To accomplish the district goal of providing quality literacy instruction, our schools will:
- Acknowledge that as the child's first teacher, the parent plays an integral role in the partnership between home and school in developing literacy in all languages.
- Recognize the connection between the development of oral language and literacy.
- Implement programs that emphasize early and continuous connections to writing and thinking.
- Focus literacy instruction on explicit reading and writing strategies.
- Use appropriate instructional strategies and practices.
- Provide a wide range of books and reading materials of appropriate complexity.
- Provide multiple opportunities for student choice in reading across genres.
- Provide multiple opportunities for students to write across genres.
- Monitor the literacy progress of all students, including a plan for additional instruction.
- Provide access for English language learners to reading materials in their first language.
- Recognize the value and importance of literature created by people from many cultural backgrounds.
- Acknowledge that all teachers, including content specialists, are responsible for developing literacy skills.
- Develop School Improvement Plans that include literacy action components written to meet the unique needs of each learning community.
- Develop building-wide literacy plans that dedicate large blocks of uninterrupted time to literacy education.
- Provide ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers, support staff, and administrators in research-based, effective practices for first and second language literacy development.
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