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Curriculum and Instruction Division » ELAR

ELAR

English Language Arts & Reading in Medina Valley ISD

In Medina Valley ISD, literacy is more than reading words on a page — it’s about thinking critically, expressing ideas clearly, and connecting with the world through stories, information, and dialogue.

We believe:

  • All students can grow as readers, writers, listeners, and speakers.

  • Reading and writing should connect to real-world experiences and prepare students for the opportunities and challenges of the future.

  • Literacy is best learned through engaging, collaborative, and meaningful experiences that invite students to explore texts, share ideas, and create their own.

  • Mistakes and revisions are valuable learning opportunities, showing students that persistence and reflection lead to stronger communication.

  • Students deepen understanding by reading widely, analyzing diverse texts, and communicating their thinking through evidence-based discussion and writing.

Core Practices and Themes in ELAR

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) – the foundation for reading, writing, speaking, and listening across all grade levels.

Literacy Practices – the skills strong readers and writers use every day, such as analyzing texts, drawing inferences, building vocabulary, crafting clear writing, engaging in discussion, and revising their work to make meaning stronger.

Recurring Themes in Literacy – the big ideas that connect across genres and grade levels, such as author’s purpose and craft, point of view, theme, and how language shapes understanding.

We begin many lessons with an authentic text or guiding question — a story, article, poem, or prompt that sparks curiosity. Students explore the text over time, building meaning, making connections, and communicating their ideas through discussion and writing.

Academic Writing

As part of this process, students also develop academic writing skills that prepare them for college, career, and civic life. In ELAR, this includes frameworks such as:

  • Claim–Evidence–Reasoning (CER): Students learn to make a clear claim about a text or topic, support it with accurate evidence, and explain their reasoning.

  • RACE (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain): A strategy for structured written responses that strengthens clarity and organization.

  • Extended Writing: Students practice essays, narratives, and research projects, moving from planning and drafting to revising and publishing.

These approaches teach students to communicate ideas effectively, whether they are analyzing literature, responding to informational texts, or crafting arguments. Writing in ELAR emphasizes clarity, evidence-based reasoning, creativity, and the power of revision as a pathway to growth.

RACE Writing Strategy

Our Goal

Through this engaging, literacy-rich approach, our goal is to develop curious readers, thoughtful writers, and confident communicators who are prepared to understand diverse perspectives, share their own ideas, and thrive in the challenges of the future.

Want to Explore Reading and Writing Together at Home?

You can also explore these family-friendly sites to spark curiosity and a love of reading:

  • Storyline Online – Actors read children’s books aloud, bringing stories to life with engaging voices and illustrations.

  • Scholastic Kids – Games, articles, and book recommendations designed to keep kids excited about reading.

  • ReadWriteThink – Interactive tools and activities for students to practice reading, writing, and word study skills.

  • PBS Kids Reading Games – Fun literacy-based games featuring familiar characters that reinforce vocabulary and comprehension.

Family Conversation Starters:

  • Ask your child what their favorite part of a story was and why it stood out.

  • Compare two characters in a book — “How are they alike? How are they different?”

  • While reading together, stop and predict what might happen next.

  • Talk about a text-to-self connection: “Does this remind you of something in your own life?”

  • Ask your child to summarize what they read in just three sentences.

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External Link Disclaimer: By following these links, you will be leaving the Medina Valley ISD website. MVISD is not responsible for the content on external sites, but we have reviewed them for educational value and appropriateness.