Elementary Core Curriculum Overview

Literacy Overview / Mathematics Overview / Social Studies Overview / Science Overview

Literacy Instruction in Ann Arbor Public Schools:

Our beliefs, resources, tools, and practices aim to center, affirm, support and challenge each of our students. AAPS strives to improve student literacy achievement through cultivating and sustaining:

• Guaranteed and viable curriculum (standards, resources, tools, practices) that includes:

  • Up-to-date, research-supported practices

    • Literacy Essentials

      • Prekindergarten

      • Grades K-3

      • Grades 4-5

    • A Framework for Equitable Instruction

      • Culturally affirming instructional practices

      • Universally designed instruction

      • Instruction with linguistic and academic accommodations

      • Active and engaged instruction

  • Alignment to Standards 

    • Michigan K-12 Standards: English Language Arts

  • Quality and engaging resources and tools that support learning and instruction (see figure 1.1)

AAPS uses a targeted and multi-tiered system for instruction, intervention, and assessment that is designed to meet the academic achievement needs of ALL students. 

Tier 1:

Tier 1 encompasses core instruction that is differentiated and provided to all students. Effective tier 1 instruction meets the needs of most students (approximately 80% of the student population). 

Ann Arbor Public Schools’ core (tier 1) literacy program provides reading and writing instruction and assessment through the combination of whole-group, small-group and individual instruction that is differentiated to meet the needs of individuals. Reading instruction at the tier 1 level addresses the following and beyond: print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Our AAPS Tier 1 Literacy instruction includes:

• MAISA Reading and Writing Units 

• Fundations or Words Their Way (Phonics Instruction)

• The Heggerty Curriculum (Phonological Awareness Instruction)

• Flexible small group and individual instruction

• Adaptive blended learning opportunities with Lexia Core5

• Literacy Coaching for teachers

     Figure 1.1