MoorestownTownship Public Schools

K-5 English Language Arts Curriculum

The K-5 English Language Arts (ELA) program is aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. It is designed to develop students' reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills through a structured progression of learning. In the early grades, students build foundational literacy skills by recognizing print concepts, developing phonemic awareness, and learning letter-sound relationships to support decoding and word recognition. Through exposure to a variety of literary and informational texts, students make meaningful connections to themselves, other texts, and the world around them. As they progress through the grades, students deepen their understanding of text structures, identify main ideas and supporting details, and compare and contrast different texts. Writing instruction is integrated, encouraging students to express their ideas in narrative, informational, and opinion-based pieces while applying grade-appropriate grammar and conventions.

As students move into the upper elementary grades, they engage in more complex literary analysis, identifying themes, character development, and points of view across multiple texts. They refine their ability to cite textual evidence, interpret figurative language, and analyze how authors use reasons and evidence to support their claims. Vocabulary development expands through the study of word parts, affixes, and context clues, enhancing comprehension and writing skills. Students are encouraged to research using print and digital sources, integrating information to support their perspectives. Throughout the program, instruction is delivered through a combination of modeling, shared experiences, guided practice, and independent application, ensuring that students develop the necessary skills to become confident, critical readers and writers.

Grades 6-8 English Language Arts Curriculum

The Grades 6-8 English Language Arts (ELA) program aligns with the New Jersey Student Standards. It is designed to build upon students' foundational literacy skills through direct instruction, close reading, and an emphasis on textual analysis and evidence-based writing. In sixth grade, students engage with complex texts across various genres, developing their ability to analyze literature through multiple readings and select relevant text evidence to support their interpretations. Writing instruction is integrated with reading, guiding students through the writing process from planning and drafting to revising and publishing. Lessons are structured within thematic units that support vertical articulation, ensuring a logical progression of skills from year to year. Instruction includes whole-group lessons, small-group strategy sessions, student-teacher conferences, and performance-based learning opportunities, fostering independent and collaborative learning experiences.

As students progress through seventh and eighth grade, they deepen their analytical reading and writing skills, engaging with a variety of literary and informational texts, including classic and contemporary works. Seventh graders refine their writing abilities across multiple formats, such as essays, narratives, argumentative pieces, and poetry, while incorporating grammar, vocabulary, research, and multimedia elements into their learning. Honors and accelerated programs provide additional opportunities for independent study, Socratic discussions, and in-depth literary analysis. In eighth grade, students further develop their ability to write arguments, explanatory texts, and narratives while making meaningful connections between literature and real-world issues. Students refine their communication skills through individualized and collaborative projects, preparing them for high school and beyond.

HS English

The high school English program is designed to foster critical thinking, analytical reading, and advanced writing skills through a progressively rigorous curriculum. In ninth and tenth grade, students develop their ability to analyze literature by studying a variety of texts, including novels, short stories, dramas, poetry, and nonfiction. Writing instruction focuses on the four modes of discourse—expository, narrative, creative, and argumentative—while vocabulary, grammar, and research skills are integrated into coursework. Honors courses provide additional challenges, emphasizing independent reading, deeper literary analysis, and a more intensive writing workload. Throughout these years, students refine their speaking and listening skills through presentations, discussions, and collaborative projects, encouraging thoughtful engagement with texts.

In the upper grades, students explore American and world literature with increasing complexity, applying literary analysis to diverse texts while making interdisciplinary connections. English III immerses students in the American literary tradition, focusing on historical and cultural influences, advanced research, and critical writing. Honors students engage in a more independent, rigorous literature study, synthesizing ideas across multiple texts. In twelfth grade, students examine literature from a global and cultural perspective, analyzing themes of power, identity, and society through a range of genres. Advanced Placement courses offer a college-level experience, with AP English Language emphasizing rhetorical analysis and argumentation, while AP English Literature focuses on deep literary analysis and critical interpretation. Across all levels, the program equips students with the skills necessary for academic success and lifelong literary appreciation.

Media Library

The Moorestown Township Public Schools Library Curriculum supports the emphasis of each elementary school. Our mission is to provide a library curriculum that fosters each student's intellectual, moral, and social learning. Three strands, library as a place of learning, awareness of literature for aesthetic and personal growth, and information as a means to identify, locate, and evaluate digital and print sources, form the basis of the curriculum. Development of these strands may involve the collaborative efforts of certified librarians/library media specialists, administrators, classroom teachers, technology coordinators, computer teachers, and students as active partners in the educational process, thus reinforcing the value of literacy and lifelong learning.

The K-3 media library program is designed to equip young learners with essential 21st-century skills, fostering inquiry, critical thinking, and a love for reading. Following the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) standards, students learn how to seek knowledge, evaluate information, and apply what they discover in meaningful ways. Through engaging activities, they explore a variety of literature, develop an appreciation for different genres, and learn to navigate library resources effectively. The curriculum emphasizes ethical participation in a digital and democratic society, encouraging students to share ideas responsibly and pursue personal growth through reading and research.

As students progress through grades 4-6, the media program expands to include research, digital literacy, and multimedia production. Fourth graders use both traditional and digital resources ethically to build a strong foundation in library navigation, literary appreciation, and inquiry-based research. In fifth and sixth grades, students engage in hands-on media projects, including scriptwriting, video production, and editing, fostering creativity and technological proficiency. Through these structured projects, they develop digital citizenship skills, learning to use technology responsibly while expressing their ideas through multimedia. Meeting once per eight-day cycle, these courses provide students with the tools to become independent learners, effective researchers, and responsible media creators.