English Language Arts (ELA)

Student success is dependent upon using State and City Standards for effective learning and teaching in the classroom. We align our ELA and Social Studies curriculums with the Standards to foster high expectations for our community learners.

Selected Manhattan high schools collaborate with university programs, such as the Writing Project at Lehman College and the Talent Development Project from John Hopkins University, and the American Social History Project, which combines ELA with Global or US Social Studies content. Consultants such as America's Choice, and Ventures in Education, help with the development of reading, writing and the development of high level critical thinking skills.

Many schools have “humanities’ classes, which allow reading and writing in cross-departmental English and Social Studies blocks. A balanced approach to instructions encouraged, with emphasis on strategies for reading and writing in an inclusive classroom. We also utilize technology to reinforce the content of the workshops, and many lessons and guides to teaching are on ourHigh Schools in Manhattan website.