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1. How can I access the new EL Education 6-8 Language Arts curriculum (Second Edition)?
All lessons and supporting materials (including homework, assessments, and performance tasks) can be accessed on our curriculum website. To learn more about what is available, visit Getting Started Suggestions.
Like the first edition EL Education authored for EngageNY, the second edition of grades 6-8 is the result of deep collaboration with teachers, students, and literacy experts. Thanks in great part to their contributions, you can look forward to these highlights in the second edition:
- Building World Knowledge through Content: The curriculum builds students' deep subject matter expertise, immersing them in the study of real-world social and scientific topics that fuel creativity, higher-order critical thinking, and literacy.
- Embedded Social-Emotional Learning: We know that middle schoolers need what they learn to have emotional resonance. New topics and texts prepare students to be more effective learners and ethical people.
- National Relevance and Standards Alignment: The second edition engages students with topics that resonate nationally, based on recommendations from students and teachers, while maintaining close alignment with targeted NGSS (science) and C3 (social studies) content standards for each grade band.
If you would like to order the curriculum in other formats from our distribution partners, please visit our How to Order page.
2. Are there any updates to required trade books or additional materials? The EL Education 6-8 Language Arts curriculum (Second Edition) includes several new and exciting topics, including new anchor texts and DVDs. Please reach out to our distribution partners for a finalized procurement list.
Highlights include:
- A similar quantity of trade books as in K-5
- New media formats such as DVDs and audiobooks
- No extra materials or kits required
- One module per grade utilizing a first edition trade book: Grade 6: Module 1 (The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan), Grade 7: Module 1 (A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park), Grade 8: Module 2 (The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan) Please note that this text was used in the first edition curriculum in Grade 8: Module 4.
Download Required Trade Book and Resource List
3. How is the new Grades 6-8 Language Arts curriculum (Second Edition) different from the first edition?
The EL Education 6-8 Language Arts (Second Edition) maintains the same overall design and structure, with 45-minute lessons. EL Education has made some significant updates, including:
- Structure and format aligned to the K-5 curriculum, with streamlined teacher guides to support navigability and accessibility
- Four modules across the year (no alternative modules)
- Tighter alignment to standards, including checklists and rubrics, more exemplars and models, more explicit writing instruction, and explicit language and grammar instruction
- More explicit supports for English language learners focused on differentiation, e.g., sentence starters, supportive images on handouts, and glossaries of terms
- Design informed by the Universal Design for Learning Framework to increase meaningful access and reduce barriers to learning for students with diverse learning needs
- Greater representation of diverse cultures and identities in topics and communities studied, book authors, and characters; core texts including contemporary contributions in lieu of traditional canon texts
- A consistent approach to writing across all levels and grade bands
