Welcome Back, Pride Scholars and Families!
I hope everyone had an amazing summer! This summer, I embraced the spirit of adventure. I took my daughter on her very first rollercoaster (she loved it!), visited the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, which was an absolute treasure trove of innovation and history, and I finally made it through the entire Dune book series—a sci-fi marathon that was totally worth it! I also tried Kibbeh for the first time. It’s a delicious Lebanese dish with pine nuts and minced meat, fried to crispy perfection. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it!
Now that we’re back, I’m thrilled to dive into all the exciting newness happening at Pride Academy! Our ELA department is welcoming some amazing new teachers who are ready to help you grow. I’m excited to introduce Mx. Smith, who is joining our 8th grade ELA team, and Ms. Lewis, who will be teaching 7th grade ELA. They are both passionate about bringing literature to life in the classroom, and I know they’re going to be great additions to our community. We can’t wait for you to meet them and experience their energy and creativity!
On top of new teachers, we’re rolling out a brand-new curriculum—Fishtank Learning. This curriculum is packed with culturally relevant texts that will engage our scholars and make them think deeply about our world. Through these stories, we’ll explore different cultures, perspectives, and themes that will push us to engage critically with important issues like identity, justice, and social change.
One of the big changes this year is our focus on the new NJ state standards, which emphasize climate change. We’ll be incorporating these topics into our discussions and reading. This means we’ll be thinking about how literature can help us understand and respond to real-world challenges like the environment and how our choices impact the future. I’m looking forward to the powerful conversations we’re going to have in classes!
Reading is going to play a huge role in our success this year. A major part of the Fishtank Learning curriculum is reading for homework—it’s essential to the growth for scholars. I know life is full of distractions, but carving out time at home to read without interruptions will really help them develop as a reader. Find a quiet, cozy space—maybe in their room or another part of the house—where they can focus. The more they practice reading, the more you’ll see improvement in their thinking and writing.
Parents, you can help make this a great year, too! Here’s how:
- Check-in on what your scholar is reading. Ask them about their book—what’s happening in the story? What’s exciting or challenging about the text?
- Encourage critical thinking by asking deeper questions. For example, “How do you think this character’s choices reflect bigger issues in the world?” or “What connections can you make between this novel and your own experiences?” These conversations will help students keep thinking about their reading and writing even after they’ve closed the book.
- Finally, help your scholar stay organized. Setting up a reading routine and distraction-free space at home will help them build good habits that lead to academic success.
Let’s make this year one of curiosity, growth, and stepping into greatness—one page at a time!
Warmly,
Mr. Zabor
8th Grade ELA