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English Language Arts (ELA)

DANA SARNO 
Supervisor
Email:
973-989-2000 

About Us: English Language Arts and Media K-12

Welcome to the Dover School District’s English Language Arts and Media Department, led by Dana Sarno, Supervisor of English Language Arts and Media K-12. Our department is dedicated to creating a literacy-rich environment that encourages and nurtures a lifelong love of reading and learning in every student.

Our Mission Our mission is to cultivate an engaging culture of reading that reaches every student. We aim to provide a diverse library of books that caters to various interests, reading levels, and cultural backgrounds. By empowering students with critical thinking, effective communication, and comprehensive literacy skills, we prepare them to interact thoughtfully with the world. Our ultimate goal is to foster a community of well-rounded readers, researchers, and thinkers who are confident, competent, and compassionate.

Our Goals

  • Enhance every classroom with libraries filled with diverse and engaging reading materials.
  • Foster immersive literacy experiences that spark curiosity and encourage exploration.
  • Support multilingual literacy with books in multiple languages, reflecting the diversity of our students.
  • Develop and implement a robust literacy curriculum focused on essential skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking.
  • Provide targeted support and interventions to ensure all students reach literacy proficiency.
  • Inspire students to become independent readers and proactive learners, seeking knowledge inside and beyond the classroom.

Recent Successes and Projects

  • We have equipped every classroom across the district with comprehensive libraries, providing diverse literary resources that meet a wide range of interests and needs.
  • Our successful launch of book clubs at various grade levels has created vibrant communities where students discuss literature and develop analytical skills.
  • The implementation of choice reading initiatives and the incorporation of diverse texts across all grade levels help students find personal connections with literature.
  • A redesigned high school English Language Arts curriculum aligns with modern educational standards, emphasizing critical analysis and diverse perspectives.
  • The adoption of the workshop model in K-8 settings personalizes learning, allowing for more focused and effective literacy instruction.

Collaborations and Innovations

  • We are collaborating with the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) to provide Orton-Gillingham instruction for K-2 teachers.
  • Partnering with Fairleigh Dickinson University, we have launched a full Orton-Gillingham cohort for K-6 teachers, enhancing our commitment to effective literacy instruction.
  • Our partnership with William Paterson University offers high school students Dual Credit Enrollment opportunities in creative writing, further expanding their academic and creative horizons.

Join us as we continue to advance literacy and prepare our students to be thoughtful leaders and learners in the 21st century.