LESA Updates Communication Arts Curriculum
In June, a committee of 12 teachers from seven LESA member schools gathered at Glendale Lutheran Church (one of four CCLS Early Childhood campuses) to begin updating LESA’s Communication Arts Curriculum Guide. Their mission? To help students share their faith and the love of our Savior through Communication Arts.
The ability to read, comprehend, and construct the written word and language is essential to student success. Updating curriculum allows for continuing improvement of the educational programs offered at our schools and provides an opportunity for teachers to grow in their profession. As educators are better prepared to teach, children in prekindergarten – eighth grade are better equipped for the world in which they live and function. As a result, God’s Kingdom can flourish and His gospel can be more effectively spread to all.
The aim of the Communication Arts Curriculum Guide is for teachers to instill in students:
- The ability to decode, comprehend, and process information
- A love of literature leading to lifelong appreciation of various genres
- The skills to be life-long independent readers and learners
In order to achieve these goals, the curriculum writing committee identified three major strands for instruction which include Reading, Language and Writing, and Speaking and Listening.
The committee reviews the current Missouri English Language Arts standards and Illinois standards, which are the Common Core State Standards, in formulating the LESA Communication Arts standards.
The LESA Difference
How can our Lutheran faith be integrated into the teaching of Communication Arts? The ultimate goal of Communication Arts is children fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), by sharing their faith and the love of our Savior with the world. As “missionaries in training,” this includes reading and memorizing the Bible and Lutheran confessional texts and responding through written and spoken word. As instructed in 1 Peter 3:15 (In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.), we are training students to defend their faith through written works and scripture imprinted upon their hearts.
The updated Communication Arts Curriculum guide will be shared with member schools in August.
