Academic Pilots: Strengthening Literacy with New Tools & Curriculum

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we launched several pilot initiatives this spring to strengthen literacy instruction across our schools.

In grades K–2, we are enhancing our literacy program by introducing a dedicated reading comprehension curriculum while laying the foundation for a more cohesive K–8 approach grounded in the Science of Reading.

Across grades K–8, select ELA teachers piloted the Arts & Letters curriculum to deepen student engagement and strengthen core literacy skills. In addition, 5th-grade teachers incorporated CourseMojo—an AI-powered instructional tool that complements existing curriculum—to make daily lessons more interactive, responsive, and supportive for all learners.

CourseMojo enables teachers to differentiate instruction by providing students with targeted, curriculum-aligned feedback that builds mastery and confidence. Students especially valued the immediate feedback and positive reinforcement, while teachers appreciated the platform’s ability to summarize class-wide and individual progress, identify trends, and offer actionable guidance to address misconceptions.

Together, these pilots are helping us better understand how to align high-quality curriculum, strong instruction, and innovative tools to accelerate student learning across our network.

Watch Our Teachers in Action!

2nd Grade at Ashe Practices Arts & Letters

2nd Grade at Green Practice CKLA Listening & Learning

Watch this clip of Mr. Mercadel, 2nd Grade Teacher at Arthur Ashe Charter School, as he works with his students using the Arts & Letters curriculum to guide structured conversations,Ìý strengthen vocabulary and literacy skills, and integrate reading.

Watch this clip of Ms. Wiltz, 2nd Grade Teacher at Samuel J. Green Charter School, as she works with her students using the CKLA Listening & Learning curriculum to build knowledge and leverage the power of comprehensive listening and discussion.

Hear What Our Teachers & Students Have to Say About Working with Coursemojo!

Check out these clips of Ms. James, 5th Grade ELA Teacher at Arthur Ashe, and her students from the CourseMojo Demo panel discussion!