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Ms. Ardaiz’s Classroom Edit display name

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All across America (but especially in Title I schools), language arts is recognized as one of the most test-heavy subjects. These tests are seen as a measure of a school's improvement and its efforts to close the achievement gap. As a result, the language arts curriculum in under performing schools has shifted towards "teaching to the test" and away from allowing students to appreciate reading and writing as they were meant to: through books. Did you know that there is not a single novel in the MDCPS Middle School Language Arts curriculum? Because so much time is devoted to rote memorization and test strategies in order to improve students' scores, many children lose sight of the most important, practical, and fun part of English: reading! All 144 children in my classes deserve access to a books that spark their interest as individuals and challenge them as intellectuals. In order to do this, I have selected books in a variety of genres and categories, ranging from the classics you might remember reading in school (The Call of the Wild, The Hobbit) to more modern stories related more closely to my students lives (The Mysterious Benedict Society, Freak the Mighty). These books will be used for independent reading time, book reports, and writing instruction. Above all else, they will help my students to improve their English language skills through exposure to great writing without the pressure of an arbitrary score at the end of the year. I have done my best to curate a balanced list of books, but I am always open to suggestions or other donations! Thanks for all your kindness.

About my class

All across America (but especially in Title I schools), language arts is recognized as one of the most test-heavy subjects. These tests are seen as a measure of a school's improvement and its efforts to close the achievement gap. As a result, the language arts curriculum in under performing schools has shifted towards "teaching to the test" and away from allowing students to appreciate reading and writing as they were meant to: through books. Did you know that there is not a single novel in the MDCPS Middle School Language Arts curriculum? Because so much time is devoted to rote memorization and test strategies in order to improve students' scores, many children lose sight of the most important, practical, and fun part of English: reading! All 144 children in my classes deserve access to a books that spark their interest as individuals and challenge them as intellectuals. In order to do this, I have selected books in a variety of genres and categories, ranging from the classics you might remember reading in school (The Call of the Wild, The Hobbit) to more modern stories related more closely to my students lives (The Mysterious Benedict Society, Freak the Mighty). These books will be used for independent reading time, book reports, and writing instruction. Above all else, they will help my students to improve their English language skills through exposure to great writing without the pressure of an arbitrary score at the end of the year. I have done my best to curate a balanced list of books, but I am always open to suggestions or other donations! Thanks for all your kindness.

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About my class

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