How might we increase student engagement in learning and deepen thinking through connected literacy experiences?

Our school learning focus is to increase proficiency in connecting, questioning, and inferencing with disaggregated improvement for beginning English language learners. 

Our school learning focus is informed by the Fall Richmond Formative Reading Assessment (RFRA). Data indicates the key areas of focus in reading comprehension are: connecting, questioning, and inferencing.

Beginning English language learners – level 1 & 2

59% of students are emerging or developing in making connections

• Of all ELL level 1 & 2 learners, 91% are emerging or developing in making connections

45% of students are emerging or developing in inferencing 

• Of all ELL level 1 & 2 learners, 44% are emerging or developing in inferencing

62% of students are emerging or developing in questioning 

• Of all ELL level 1 & 2 learners, 76% are emerging or developing in questioning 

School-wide read-aloud: shared focus & story

• Follow-up lessons and ways to engage with the text through co-teaching of thinking routines 

Monthly Community Gathering

• Common story for read-aloud – connected to yearly theme 
• Students share their learning with the following framework (What are you learning? Why is it important? What do you like about it or what do you wonder?)

Class Teams Collaborations & Pro-D 

• Planning and learning connected to reading comprehension and meaning making 
• Weave content vocabulary and background knowledge into ELA learning 
• Connect learning indoors and outdoors to nurture shared experience and common understanding 

Instructional Routines/Literacy-rich experiences: 

• Embed thinking routines or instructional routines into daily teaching 
• Include a variety of strategies: direct instruction, guided practice, applications  

Students will make meaning of the world around them, so that they can make decisions and actions that continue to nurture a collaborative community for learning and growth. 

• growth in comprehension skills
• joyful and connected learning experiences
• increased background knowledge in context

Spring reading assessment 2026 

• increase in number of students who are proficient in the various comprehension skills 

Observations & Conferences 

• students will demonstrate an increased awareness and curiosity of the world by asking questions, making connections and inferences about what they read, hear, see, and experience

Alignment Statement