Elementary Overview
Engaging our children from an early age is important in order to cultivate and develop them into life-long learners who have a clear purpose in life and who have a strong relationship with Allah. Our students, their parents, teachers, staff, administration, and the rest of the community all work together within the framework of our values to work towards our mission in order to provide our students with a holistic education and help them develop into well-rounded and productive citizens that can contribute positively to society and to the Ummah as a whole.
NISL implements the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in all grades. In elementary grades the CCSS provide students with the foundations to become citizen actors and it gives them the relevant knowledge and skills needed to succeed in higher education. Our teachers incorporate the CCSS into the classrooms by using a wide variety of strategies and materials.
By providing them with a good foundation in academics and a proper understanding of the teachings of Islam throughout the early years of their Elementary education, we hope to empower our students and help them fulfill their full potential.
NISL implements the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in all grades. In elementary grades the CCSS provide students with the foundations to become citizen actors and it gives them the relevant knowledge and skills needed to succeed in higher education. Our teachers incorporate the CCSS into the classrooms by using a wide variety of strategies and materials.
By providing them with a good foundation in academics and a proper understanding of the teachings of Islam throughout the early years of their Elementary education, we hope to empower our students and help them fulfill their full potential.
Language Arts Curriculum
Our Language Arts program is rooted in the Science of Reading, a research-based approach that reflects decades of study on how children develop strong literacy skills. We believe that reading is a process that must be explicitly taught through structured, systematic instruction. Our curriculum integrates phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—the essential components for lifelong reading success.
For our youngest learners, we utilize Heggerty's Phonemic Awareness program from preschool through second grade to develop critical early literacy skills such as sound manipulation, rhyming, and blending, which lay the foundation for reading readiness. In kindergarten through second grade, we implement the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) phonics curriculum, a structured and sequential approach to phonics instruction that ensures mastery of decoding and word recognition skills. We also use Amplify ELA for kindergarten through eight grade, a rigorous, knowledge-building curriculum that enhances comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills through engaging, text-rich instruction.
Our goal is to cultivate strong, confident readers and writers who can think critically, express themselves effectively, and develop a deep appreciation for the written word.
We prioritize evidence-based assessments and screeners to monitor and support our students' literacy development and ensure they master all foundational skills. Three times annually, we administer the following assessments and screeners to our students:
By conducting these screeners three times a year, we:
For our youngest learners, we utilize Heggerty's Phonemic Awareness program from preschool through second grade to develop critical early literacy skills such as sound manipulation, rhyming, and blending, which lay the foundation for reading readiness. In kindergarten through second grade, we implement the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) phonics curriculum, a structured and sequential approach to phonics instruction that ensures mastery of decoding and word recognition skills. We also use Amplify ELA for kindergarten through eight grade, a rigorous, knowledge-building curriculum that enhances comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills through engaging, text-rich instruction.
Our goal is to cultivate strong, confident readers and writers who can think critically, express themselves effectively, and develop a deep appreciation for the written word.
We prioritize evidence-based assessments and screeners to monitor and support our students' literacy development and ensure they master all foundational skills. Three times annually, we administer the following assessments and screeners to our students:
- Phonological Awareness Screening Test (PAST): This screener measures students' proficiency in phonological awareness, a foundational skill for reading success. The PAST evaluates abilities such as sound manipulation, blending, and segmentation. Administered individually, it provides insights into each student's phonological processing skills, guiding targeted interventions.
- Basic Phonics Skills Test (BPST): The BPST assesses students' knowledge of phonics, including consonant sounds, digraphs, short vowels, and their ability to decode both single-syllable and polysyllabic words. This evaluation helps identify specific areas where a student may need additional instruction or practice in phonics.
- Conventions of Writing Developmental Scale: This scale evaluates students' writing development, focusing on their grasp of writing conventions such as punctuation, capitalization, and overall writing fluency. It provides a developmental perspective on a student's writing abilities, allowing educators to tailor instruction to each student's current level.
By conducting these screeners three times a year, we:
- Identify Missing Skills: Early detection of gaps allows for timely interventions, ensuring that foundational literacy skills are solidified.
- Provide Targeted Interventions: Assessment results inform the development of individualized support strategies, addressing each student's unique needs.
- Guide Instruction: Understanding class-wide trends enables educators to adjust instructional approaches, ensuring alignment with students' current abilities.
- Track Progress: Regular assessments allow for monitoring growth over time, ensuring that students remain on track to achieve literacy milestones.