English Literacy
Every new student begins with a placement assessment of reading and writing. Placement is based on demonstrated literacy rather than grade, and each student is assigned to one of four levels: Acorn · Sprout · Sapling · Oak. Students who are not yet reading independently build decoding skills in K–1 Phonics before moving into the leveled program.
K–1 Phonics
Focused instruction in phonics and decoding that builds the foundation for independent reading. Students move into Core Literacy once they can read on their own.
Core Literacy
Vocabulary, reading, and writing taught and applied as one connected flow. Intensive comprehension strategies and structured genre writing build strong, durable literacy.
Book Club
Students read full books, building vocabulary in context alongside literary thinking and writing. Rotating roles build responsibility, leadership, and the ability to express ideas clearly.
Writer's Workshop
Over three terms (36 weeks), students complete a book and publish it as a formal title with an ISBN, credited as a co-author.
Placement Levels
| Level | Grade | Reading level | Core Literacy focus | Book Club anchor titles | Writing goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn | K–1 | 100–600L · F&P I–M | Fluency, main idea & detail, sequence & basic cause–effect | Fly Guy · Mercy Watson · Frog and Toad | Full sentences to a paragraph |
| Sprout | 2–3 | 500–900L · F&P N–S | Inference, text structure, finding evidence, morphology | Charlotte's Web · Frindle · The Mouse and the Motorcycle | Multi-paragraph, citing evidence |
| Sapling | 4–5 | 800–1150L · F&P T–Y | Theme, argument, tone, comparing texts | Wonder · Hatchet · Holes | Thesis essay, addressing counterpoints |
| Oak | 6–8 | 1050L+ · F&P Z–Z+ | Evaluating evidence, rhetorical analysis, synthesis | Animal Farm · The Giver · Linked | Sophisticated argument, analysis of literary devices |