True Language Arts is More Than Literacy—It’s the Most Human Skill We Teach

At WHPS, reading, writing, word study, and public speaking aren’t just academic subjects. They’re how children learn to think deeply, communicate clearly, and discover who they are. AI can already write a book report, summarize an article, and outline a five-paragraph essay.

What AI can’t do is think for a child.
Or speak from their lived experience.
Or connect with an audience in a real and human way.
That’s why we focus on the skills that matter most:
Voice Purpose Perspective Presence

We’re also preparing students for the world ahead. Across our program, we’re thoughtfully integrating AI to encourage curiosity, creativity, and ethical use. But those tools are only as powerful as the minds behind them. A truly great program helps students build those minds—and the voice to lead with them.

✍️ Writing With Purpose—and Voice

At WHPS, students don’t just respond to prompts. They write with voice, clarity, and conviction—learning how to organize thoughts, connect with readers, and express who they are.

  • At WHPS, students write every single day using a Writing Workshop model that mirrors how real writers work. Instruction is individualized, meaningful, and designed to grow both skill and confidence.

    Every unit follows a clear four-phase structure:

    ✏️ 1. On-Demand Writing
    At the start of each unit, students respond to a short prompt in a new genre (e.g., narrative, informational, persuasive). They write independently in a single sitting, using only what they already know—no pre-teaching, no supports.

    Teachers carefully analyze these samples to identify:

    • Whole-class focus areas

    • Strategy groups for small group lessons

    • Individual writing goals

    This is what allows our teaching to be so targeted and personalized.

    🎯 2. Mini-Lessons & Goal-Setting
    Teachers deliver short, strategy-based lessons—often modeled from mentor texts—and then confer with students one-on-one or in small groups.

    Each child receives a custom learning path through the unit, based on their specific writing goals. This might include strategies like adding dialogue, improving transitions, or strengthening elaboration.

    📣 3. Publishing & Celebration
    Students revise and prepare a final piece for sharing. Some are typed and bound into class anthologies; others are presented to peers or families. These publishing moments aren’t about perfection—they’re about celebrating voice, growth, and pride in the process.

    📝 4. Off-Demand Writing
    At the end of each unit, students complete another brief, independent writing sample in the same genre. This time, they apply everything they’ve learned.

    Teachers use Off-Demands to:

    • Measure individual growth

    • See which strategies stuck

    • Identify skills to revisit later on

    Together, these bookend writing samples ensure that every child is making meaningful progress and getting exactly what they need next.

  • At WHPS, writing instruction is deeply personalized. Teachers don’t just teach to a grade level—they analyze each child’s writing to identify individual goals based on readiness, not age. From there, they set targeted objectives that help each student grow as a writer. You can view a sample of our Writing Skill Progression below, which outlines what learning looks like across three major genres: narrative, informational, and opinion writing. These progressions reflect the typical learning range from TK through 8th grade, though our instructional model extends through skills commonly introduced in high school.

    By focusing on what each student is ready to learn next, our teachers ensure that every child is both challenged and supported—whether they’re mastering basic conventions or crafting writing with voice, structure, and clarity.

📖 Reading That Builds Thinkers

At WHPS, students don’t just learn to read—they learn to think. Whether decoding a new word or analyzing a big idea, reading here is a personalized journey that adapts to each child’s pace, level, and strengths.

  • From TK through 2nd grade, students build decoding and fluency through a multisensory phonics progression, paired with real books—not just leveled readers. In small groups, teachers adjust instruction to each child’s stage of development.

    Starting in 2nd grade, students are matched to their instructional reading level and grouped flexibly for:

    • Strategy groups to build comprehension

    • Book clubs exploring theme, perspective, and character

    • Fluency coaching using expressive reading

    • Vocabulary and genre studies tied directly to writing

    Reading and writing are deeply connected. Students read to become better writers—and vice versa.

  • Reading instruction is:

    • Flexible enough to support a wide range of learners

    • Designed to stretch well beyond grade level—when students are ready

    • Rooted in joy, meaning, and connection to real ideas

    Every child is on their own path—and the ceiling is high.

🎤 Public Speaking

Not every child will grow up to give a TED Talk—but every child deserves to learn how to speak clearly, confidently, and from the heart. At WHPS, public speaking is part of the learning journey from TK through 5th grade.

  • In Lower Elementary (TK–1st grade), students begin by sharing ideas during class discussions, narrating from illustrations, and responding to open-ended prompts. They learn how to:

    • Project their voice

    • Organize their thoughts

    • Use tone, posture, and expression to engage listeners

    By Upper Elementary (2nd–5th grade), students are giving structured presentations that explain, persuade, or reflect—often accompanied by visual aids and written drafts. Every 5th grader in our school also writes and delivers a graduation speech—a moving moment where each child’s unique voice takes center stage. If you haven’t been to a WHPS graduation yet, you’re in for a real treat.

    What truly sets WHPS apart is the daily practice students receive.

    At Morning Meeting, children aren’t just sitting in a circle—they’re actively developing speaking and listening skills. Most days include guided prompts that introduce specific:

    • Sentence structures

    • Speaking techniques

    • Active listening cues

    • Eye contact and body language strategies

    A student who attends WHPS from TK through 5th grade has nearly 1,000 authentic opportunities to practice public speaking—with coaching, modeling, and meaningful feedback along the way.

    Public speaking isn’t an event. It’s part of how we build connection and community—every single day.

  • Not every child will give a TED Talk. But every child will need to:

    • Speak clearly in interviews

    • Advocate for themselves

    • Collaborate with peers

    • Disagree respectfully

    In a world of constant distraction, our students learn to make eye contact, listen closely, and speak from the heart.

    Public speaking isn’t just a skill—it’s a foundation for leadership.

🔤 Word Study & Spelling

Spelling at WHPS isn’t about memorizing word lists. It’s about understanding how words work—how they sound, how they’re built, and what they mean.

  • At WHPS, spelling and word study aren’t treated as isolated workbook pages or weekly quizzes. They’re an integral part of our literacy program—personalized, developmental, and embedded in meaningful instruction.

    In Preschool and TK, children begin with Handwriting Without Tears, building strong foundations in grip and letter formation in age-appropriate ways. Even before formal spelling instruction begins, teachers assess each child’s writing development and offer just-right support to move them forward.

    From TK through 2nd grade, students receive small-group phonics instruction guided by a research-based scope and sequence. This instruction is hands-on, multisensory, and rooted in Orton-Gillingham strategies—proven effective for all learners, including those with signs of dyslexia.

    We also use Jump Rope Readers, a decodable book series that mirrors our phonics progression. These books offer real stories, inclusive characters, and engaging plots—because early reading should matter to children and reflect the world they live in.

    Instead of labeling students as “high” or “low,” we use flexible, like-learner groupings. Teachers regularly adjust instruction in real time to meet students where they are. The goal isn’t to rush ahead—it’s to move steadily forward on a path that fits each child’s developmental journey.

    By 2nd or 3rd grade, most students transition into Words Their Way, a developmental spelling and vocabulary program that continues through high school. Placement is guided by diagnostic inventories that do more than check for correct spelling. These tools analyze sound patterns, syllable types, and spelling conventions to pinpoint where a child’s understanding is strong and where more support is needed.

    Words Their Way is designed to:
    • Stretch high-achieving students beyond grade level
    • Deepen vocabulary and pattern recognition
    • Support a wide range of spelling and word usage skills

  • We call it Word Study because it’s more than just spelling.

    It’s how children begin to:

    • Notice patterns

    • Understand structure

    • Build vocabulary

    • Use words purposefully in reading and writing

    Because Word Study is fully integrated into literacy instruction—not treated as a stand-alone subject—students don’t just memorize. They internalize. And they grow stronger in both reading and writing because of it.

    Quick Overview of the Word Study Progression:

    • Preschool–TK: Handwriting Without Tears

    • TK–2nd: UFLI phonics sequence + Jump Rope Readers
      (As students assess out of phonics, they move into Words Their Way. In the classroom, both are simply called Word Study.)

    • 2nd–5th: Words Their Way spelling and vocabulary continuum

    Each phase builds on the last—creating consistency, deep understanding, and a strong foundation for confident, purposeful literacy.