California ELA Resources Program Brochure | Page 2

diverse, and timeless writings by renowned, award-winning authors.

Why Mirrors & Windows is Perfect for
EMC School is proud to present its exciting literature program, Mirrors & Windows. This seven-level program
(grades 6-12) is built on a collection of rich, diverse, and timeless writings by renowned, award-winning authors.
Love of Literature
The Most Diverse Range of Literature and Informational Texts
• Engage students with award winning classic and contemporary
authors such as Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, Ray Bradbury, Annie
Dillard, Ernest Hemingway and Elizabeth Bishop
• Multicultural selections from authors such as Toni Cade Bambara,
Sandra Cisneros, Arthur Ashe, Amy Tan, Judith Ortiz Cofer, and
Langston Hughes
• Local California authors such as Francisco Jimenez, Gary Soto,
Cherylene Lee, Janet S. Wong, William Saroyan, and Fae Myenne Ng

Scaffolded Close Reading
• Mirrors & Windows is built around 8 thematic genre-based units
covering Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Drama, and Folk Literature.
• Each unit gives students a Gradual Release of Responsibility
opportunity through three levels of reading support: selections of
Guided Reading, Directed Reading, and Independent Reading.
• Gradual Release uses scaffolding to model and apply close reading
skills and strategies.

Meets All California English Language Arts CCSS
Fully meets the CA CCSS Framework Category 1 for Content Alignment with
ELA standards.
• The program was also cited for strengths in Categories 2 through
5 for:
• Program Organization
• Assessment
• Universal Access
• Instructional Planning & Teacher Support

Integrates California English Language Arts Framework’s
Five Key Themes
1. Meaning Making
Mirrors & Windows essential questions; literal comprehension and
critical close reading
2. Language Development
Vocabulary development; academic language; syntax; text structure
3. Effective Expression
Writing; speaking; digital and visual media
4. Content Knowledge
Wide range of texts; informational text connections; cross-curricular
connections; inquiry and project-based learning
5. Foundational Skills
Print concepts, building on phonics and word recognition; fluency
assessments

Range of Texts and Complexity
• Mirrors & Windows provides 100% of CCSS text types and range of
texts within grade level text complexity levels – all in student textbook
• Selections in all levels are at or above the recommended Lexile range
for each respective grade
• Lexiles for every selection provided in ATE Scope & Sequence,
prereading pages, and in Lesson Plans
• Qualitative and quantitative text complexity levels with difficulty and
ease consideration are provided.
• Independent reading Access Edition novels and plays with built-in
study apparatus
• EMC E-Library with over 300 literary and nonfiction texts

....the best range of literature