How to Choose an ELA Curriculum Home
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As you begin thinking about ELA options, consider:
- Is my student still learning to read, or are they ready to focus more on reading and writing independently?
- Do they do best with a structured, step-by-step approach, or something more flexible?
- How involved do I want to be in daily instruction?
You don’t need to have everything decided ahead of time—this is simply a starting point. Your PEARL teacher will help you finalize your choices.
Reading and Literature
For students ready to read and respond to texts
PEARL ELA (3–8)
Flexible, student-choice, standards-aligned
Parent involvement: Medium → Low
Lightning Literature
Structured, literature-based
Parent involvement: Low
Bravewriter
Literature-rich, discussion-based
Parent involvement: High
Writing Programs
For building writing skills and structure
IEW
Step-by-step, highly structured
Parent involvement: Medium
Essentials in Writing
Video-based instruction
Parent involvement: Low
WriteShop
Incremental, hands-on
Parent involvement: High
Foundational Skills (K-2 + Support)
For phonics, spelling, and early reading
All About Reading / Logic of English
Strong phonics-based foundation
Parent involvement: High
Explode the Code
Workbook-based phonics practice
Parent involvement: Low–Medium
Spelling You See
Pattern-based, lighter approach
Parent involvement: Medium
Finding the Right ELA Curriculum for Your Student
Choosing an ELA curriculum can feel overwhelming, especially with so many great options available. The goal isn’t to have everything perfectly decided before your conference, but to begin thinking about what might be a good fit for your student.
Use this page as a starting point to explore different approaches to reading, writing, and foundational skills. As you look through the options, consider your student’s needs, your teaching style, and the level of support you’d like day to day.
Your PEARL teacher will partner with you during your conference to help you make confident, informed decisions for the year ahead.