- Kent School District
- English Language Arts
English Language Arts
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The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts represent the next generation of K–12 standards designed to prepare all students for success in college, career, and life by the time they graduate from high school.
These expectations for reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language guide classroom instruction progressing from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12. Designing instruction and assessments aligned to Common Core Standards is an ongoing focus for our teachers and administrators. Graduation requirements and all course options are detailed in the Course Catalog.
Information by Grade Level
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Elementary (Grades Pre-K-6)
Resources
Following an extensive literacy review, we introduced a new multi-disciplinary ELA curriculum in 2015 with resources aligned to the Common Core.
- PK Splash
- K-2 Journeys
- 3-6 Expeditionary Learning
Assessments
We use assessments to help measure how students are progressing with the following:
- Foundational skills
- Reading literature
- Reading informational text
- Writing
- Speaking and listening
- Language
Elementary students have 90 minutes of core instruction and 30 minutes of skill group time daily.
Students in grades Pre-K-6 are evaluated using the Independent Reading Leveling Assessment Framework and the i-Ready Reading Assessment. Students in grades 3-6 also take the Smarter Balanced ELA Test (SBA).
Learn more about Washington testing requirements on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website.
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Middle School (Grades 7-8)
Resources
The Frameworks/Curriculum Guides for middle and high School are not text, but standards, skills and strategy dependent.
Common Resources for Each Grade Level
- Pearson Literature Anthology
- Supplemental novels and other texts at grade level standards for complexity
Assessments
We use assessments to help measure how students are progressing with the following:
- Reading literature
- Reading informational text
- Writing
- Speaking and listening
- Language
Secondary students have one period of English Language Arts daily. They are evaluated using teacher and district created pre and post-assessments for each unit of study. Students also take iReady or SBA interim assessments and the Smarter Balanced ELA Test (SBAC).
Learn more about the Washington testing requirements on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website.
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High School (Grades 9-12)
Resources
The Frameworks/Curriculum Guides for middle and high School are not text, but standards, skills and strategy dependent.
Common Resources for Each Grade Level
- McDougall-Littell Literacy (Grades 9-11)
- McGraw-Hill Reader (Grade 12)
- Write Source (Grade 12)
- Book of Poetry (Grade 12)
- Supplemental novels and other texts at grade level standards for complexity
Assessments
We use assessments to help measure how students are progressing with the following:
- Reading literature
- Reading informational text
- Writing
- Speaking and listening
- Language
Secondary students have one period of English Language Arts daily. They are evaluated using teacher and district created pre and post-assessments for each unit of study. Students also take SBA interim assessments and students in grade 10 take the Smarter Balanced ELA Test (SBAC).
Learn more about the Washington testing requirements on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website.
Contact Us
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Karen Stevens
English Language Arts Coordinator (Pre-K-6)
(253) 373-7088
Amy Abrams
English Language Arts Coordinator (7-12)
(253) 373-7190
