Elementary Language Arts
Wit & Wisdom
From Great Minds-
Knowledge has a multiplier effect—the earlier you begin to build knowledge, the better you do academically in later years. English Language Arts lessons can integrate knowledge from science, history, geography, and other topics while students develop their reading and writing skills and expand their vocabulary. Wit & Wisdom’s approach to ELA allows students to build both skills and knowledge with every lesson.
Wit & Wisdom ELA is recognized by the Knowledge Matters Campaign as one of a few knowledge-building curricula crafted to ensure that students build critical ELA skills while also building knowledge of the world.
Hamden Public Schools began implementing the Wit & Wisdom program K-3 during the 2024-2025 academic year and will begin implementing the Wit & Wisdom program 4-6 during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Fundations
From Wilson Language, Fundations-
The research-based approach of the Fundations program allows teachers to confidently present a carefully structured reading, spelling, and handwriting curriculum using engaging materials and multimodal techniques.
...Fundations is grounded in the science of reading and guides teachers to provide effective instructional practices in print concepts, phonemic awareness, phonics and word study, vocabulary, automaticity/fluency, and comprehension. Instruction and practice occur in a systematic, cumulative, and explicit manner that maximizes classroom time and allows students to experience greater gains in the skills required for independent reading.
Hamden Public Schools began the implementation of the Fundations program with K-2 students in 2018-2019 and added 3rd grade in 2021-2022. We will begin implementing the Fundations program in our Hamden Early Learning PreK classrooms during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The information in this section is adapted from the Wilson Fundations information page and program materials.
Heggerty
At Hamden Public Schools, educators use the Heggerty curriculum to help students from Pre-K through 1st grade build strong literary foundational skills. The curriculum follows an intentional and systematic progression of skill development, covering a range of phonological and phonemic awareness skills.
Hamden Public Schools began implementation with K-2 students in 2021-2022. We will begin implementing the Heggerty program in our Hamden Early Learning PreK classrooms during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The information in this section is adapted from the Heggerty program materials.
Geodes
Geodes books provide an authentic reading experience that builds content knowledge about science, history, and the arts, fostering intellectual curiosity.
Rooted in the belief that children are capable of reading to learn while learning to read, Geodes, published by Great Minds® in association with Wilson Language Training®, are a collection of accessible, knowledge-building books for emerging and developing readers.
Each of the modules cover a specific topic aligned with Wit & Wisdom:
- Topics from many content areas and genres build content knowledge and context.
- Texts are organized in grade-level appropriate sets.
- Geodes are 80%* decodable or higher at a designated point in the Fundations scope and sequence.
- Decodable words include previously taught and newly taught phonetic concepts that align with Fundations.
- Recognizable words include previously taught and newly taught Fundations Trick Words.
The information in this section is adapted from Geodes Classroom Libraries and the Geodes program overview.
