The Octorara Primary Learning Center is unique in that our ELA program consists of two core components- Block Reading and ELA (English Language Arts). During reading block, students work at their instructional reading level and during ELA, students focus on grade level reading.

Students receive focused instruction on the five critical areas of reading: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency,Vocabulary, and Comprehension. For 70 minutes daily, students in 1st and 2nd grade receive direct explicit instruction based on their instructional reading level. During this Block Reading time, studentsreceive core phonics instruction using “Project Read,” followed by Guided Reading using various leveled readers.

During ELA, students are grouped heterogeneously and focus on grade level reading using the resources Making Meaning and Being a Writer. Students read or listen to fiction and non-fiction text and develop skills necessary to grow as a reader and writer.