Literacy
Our Vision
Our English Language Arts department is dedicated to fostering an inspiring and inclusive learning environment where students are encouraged to explore their emerging identities and unique voices. We aim to cultivate creativity and self-discovery through the power of diverse and rich texts, writing across genres, and meaningful conversations. Using 21st century literacy protocols, our classrooms center around discussion, analysis, choice, and self-expression, helping students feel welcomed, brave, and empowered. By supporting students’ language and reading development, our goal is to ensure that students approach new experiences and relationships with confidence as thoughtful communicators, readers, writers, and lifelong scholars.
-Halsey ELA Department
All instruction is driven by the Next Generation Learning Standards in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Language.
The Literacy Curriculum:
The curriculum in the English Language Arts classroom is one that is based on conceptual and constructivist learning. The learner constructs meaning through strategies that lead to higher level thinking. Accordingly, the units in grades 6-9 are those in which the major concepts of the unit are developed into the “Essential Understandings” that the students will eventually conclude as the lessons progress. The lessons “hinge” on a guided question from which the daily mini-lesson questions are developed.
All units in grades 6-9 are grounded in the Next Generation Learning Standards which students are instructed to be active readers who analyze and synthesize text. The units of instruction in writing are also grounded in the Next Generation Learning Standards for argumentative, informative, and narrative writing.
New York State P-12: Next Generation Learning Standards for ELA
Junior High School 157 has transitioned to the NY State P-12 Next Generation Learning Standards (NGS). The New York State Assessments reflect the NYS P-12 Next Generation Learning Standards, which are the compilation of the Next Generation Learning and the additional standards developed by the NY State Department of Education (NYSED). The state assessments, focus on measuring deeper levels of thinking. Accordingly, the Next Generation lessons developed by the teachers will prepare students for college and career readiness.
Information about the Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards can be found at: https://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/new-york-state-next-generation-english-language-arts-v
Engage NY: http://engageny.org/
Department of Education New York City: http://schools.nyc.gov/default.aspx
NY State Department of Education: http://www.nysed.gov/
Nextera
The 2025 ELA New York State Test will be Computer-based and students taking the test will use the Nextera platform. Students can gain additional practice with this platform (e.g., highlighting/ bookmark features, test format, answering questions etc.) using the link below. Once on the page, select "ELA", select the grade level, and then select from one of the "Sampler" exams. An answer key will also populate, making it helpful for students to check their answers! Families or students with questions can reach out to their English Language Arts teacher or to the ELA Assistant Principal, Ms. Albanese, at [email protected]