Reading, writing and language development remain central to our work across Highline.
When students read with confidence, they can learn new ideas more quickly, participate more fully in class, and express themselves more clearly. This year, we continue to focus on helping every student, in every grade, build strong reading, writing and language skills.
Here is an update on how our schools are supporting students as readers, writers and communicators.
Building Strong Foundations in Elementary School
Staff work together to support students as they build strong reading and writing skills. Here’s how we’re making a difference:
- Educators dive deep into the basics of reading, learning new ways to help students recognize words and understand what they read.
- Each month, staff receive quick tips and ideas to try out in the classroom, based on the latest research about what works best for students.
- School teams participate in short, focused learning sessions to get even better at teaching reading and writing.
- We offer special training days where staff can practice and share new teaching strategies that help students succeed.
- Students are getting more opportunities to write about what they read and explore different types of writing.
We’re also setting up classroom routines, like engaging with Learning Center materials to help students work on their own or with their peers. This gives students a chance to take the lead and learn from each other. Working together, we’re helping students become confident readers and writers who are excited to learn.
Supporting Multilingual Learners Through Language Development
Many of our Highline students are learning a new language while also learning grade-level content in all their classes. These students receive extra support to help them build the language skills they need for success in school.
Explicit Language Development (ELD) is standards-based instruction designed to help multilingual learners build the language skills needed for success in school. This helps students learn important vocabulary, use complete sentences, take part in discussions, and understand classroom learning more fully.
This happens in two important ways: Teachers support language growth during regular classroom lessons, and students may also receive dedicated time for focused language practice.
We believe that students’ home languages and cultures are strengths. Learning two languages adds to what students already know and helps them expand their opportunities and voice.
This support is an important part of making sure every student can learn, belong and thrive.
Strengthening Reading and Discussion in Middle and High School
In middle and high school, students are working on reading more challenging texts.
Across subjects, students are practicing important skills such as learning new vocabulary, taking notes while reading, and talking with classmates about their thinking. These discussions help students better understand what they read and become more independent learners.
In Language Arts classes, students regularly read and discuss texts together. Students read and take notes on texts, then use their notes to engage in structured discussions. This helps students learn how to ask strong questions, support their ideas with evidence, and participate in meaningful conversations.
The goal is not only to improve reading, but also to help students become more independent and thoughtful learners.
For example, at Cascade Middle School, students are practicing how to prepare for discussions by writing questions and using notes from their reading. This helps them feel more confident and take a stronger role in class conversations.
Amanda Eastgard , a teacher at Cascade Middle School, shared:
“My students hold themselves and each other accountable to having deeper conversations about the texts by annotating intentionally while they read and generating discussion questions before sharing. They push themselves and each other to back up their discussion points with text evidence. Practicing these skills with whole class texts first gives them opportunities to practice these skills and sets students up to do the same level of comprehension, analysis, and discussion work in book clubs and on their own, too.”
Department chairs have also played an important role in leading this work at school sites, guiding professional learning communities and sharing examples of effective practice.
Moving Forward Together
Across Highline, we are helping students build the reading, writing, and language skills they need in school and in life. From early reading in elementary school, to language support for students learning English, to deeper reading and discussion in secondary classrooms, we are working toward the same goal: helping every student become a stronger reader, writer, and communicator.