More Than Just Rhymes: Why Poetry is a Powerhouse in CKLA!
Did you know that in our CKLA curriculum, poetry isn’t just a "fun break"? It is a foundational tool for building brilliant readers from Kindergarten all the way through 5th Grade.
Here’s how our students grow through the power of verse:
K–2 (The Sound of Language): Our youngest learners use nursery rhymes and basic poems to master Phonological Awareness. Rhyming helps them hear the "chunks" in words, making it a secret weapon for early decoding!
3rd Grade (The Bridge to Fluency): This is where it gets magical. Students focus on prosody: learning to read with expression, rhythm, and heart. Poetry teaches them that punctuation isn't just a dot, it's a breath.
4th & 5th Grade (The Depth of Knowledge): Upper elementary students dive into verbal reasoning. They deconstruct metaphors, personification, and imagery, turning "simple" stanzas into deep lessons in language comprehension.
Whether it’s a Mother Goose rhyme or an Amanda Gorman masterpiece, poetry helps our students weave the "Language Comprehension" and "Word Recognition" strands of the Reading Rope together.
Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day on Thursday, March 12. 🔔
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, please contact your school directly.
Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day today, Thursday, February 19. 🔔
Note: There is no school for students tomorrow, Friday, Feb 20 (Teacher Work Day).
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, contact your school directly.
Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day this Thursday, February 19. 🔔
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, contact your school directly.
If your student has been talking about "chains" lately, don't worry—they aren't auditioning for a construction crew! They are mastering one of the most powerful tools in our CKLA Skills toolkit.
What exactly is Word Chaining?
It’s a fast-paced "mental gymnastics" game for the brain. We start with a word like cat, and by changing just one sound at a time, we transform it: cat → can → fan → fin.
Why it’s a Game-Changer:
- Phonemic Awareness: It trains the ear to hear the tiny differences between sounds.
- Decoding Speed: It builds the "muscle memory" needed to recognize patterns instantly.
- Confidence: Using our Word Chaining Folders, students get hands-on practice manipulating letters, turning "scary" big words into a series of small, manageable shifts.
Our students are proving that building literacy is all about making the right connections!
Learn more about early childhood education at TCAPS by visiting www.tcaps.net/enroll.
Learn more about early childhood education at TCAPS by visiting www.tcaps.net/enroll.
SCHOOL IS CLOSED: All TCAPS schools are closed today, Tuesday, January 27, 2026 due to inclement weather. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
For more information on snow days, including how they are communicated and how decisions are made, go to www.tcaps.net.
All TCAPS schools are closed tomorrow, Friday, January 23, 2026, due to inclement weather. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
Due to the inclement weather closure, we are moving the 2-hour early release to Thursday, March 26, 2026. Based on staff and community feedback, we want to prioritize full days of instructional time for this upcoming week.
Thank you for your flexibility as we work to maximize learning time for our students!
Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day today, January 22. 🔔
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, contact your school directly.
Reminder: Upcoming Early Release Days 🔔
TCAPS will have a 2-hour early release on both Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23.
Thursday's early release was rescheduled due to Monday's weather closure, while Friday's remains as originally scheduled.
Start & Dismissal Times: https://5il.co/3jfxa
Academic Calendar: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, please contact your school directly.
Final Call: Talented and Gifted Program (TAG) Testing Registration Window Closing!
Don't miss this opportunity! If your 3rd grader is interested in optional CogAT testing for the TAG Program, you must complete the online registration form.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Testing will be administered at your student's home school during the Feb 2–13 window.
➡️ Register Here: https://forms.gle/htKyceUSR5REHEg58
Learn more at www.tcaps.net/TAG.
SCHOOL IS CLOSED: All TCAPS schools are closed today, Tuesday, January 20, 2026 due to inclement weather. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
For more information on snow days, including how they are communicated and how decisions are made, go to www.tcaps.net.
Due to today’s inclement weather closure, the 2-hour early release originally scheduled for today has been moved to Thursday, January 22. 🗓️
Please note that the scheduled early release for Friday, January 23 remains in effect. Students will have a 2-hour early dismissal on both Thursday and Friday.
Start & Dismissal Times: https://5il.co/3jfxa
Academic Calendar: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, please contact your school directly.
SCHOOL IS CLOSED: All TCAPS schools are closed today, Monday, January 19, 2026 due to inclement weather. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
For more information on snow days, including how they are communicated and how decisions are made, go to www.tcaps.net.
🔔 Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day this coming Monday, January 19.
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, contact your school directly.
Did you know a strong vocabulary is a top predictor of reading success? At TCAPS, our CKLA curriculum builds "word power" from Kindergarten through 5th grade by immersing students in exciting, real-world topics. It’s not just about knowing a word; it’s about understanding it deeply and being able to use it!
Here is a look at the vocabulary our students are mastering:
Kindergarten: Building the Foundation In K, we introduce fascinating topics like "Farms," "Seasons and Weather," and "Colonial America" through captivating read-alouds. Your child is learning words like: harvest, migration, and colony! 📚
1st Grade: Expanding Horizons First graders delve into domains like "The Human Body," "Fairy Tales," and "A New Nation." They're learning words like circulation, heroic, and independence! 🌳
2nd Grade: Digging Deeper In second grade, topics like "Ancient Greek Civilization," "The War of 1812," and "Ecology" bring more complex vocabulary into play- such as democracy, conflict, and biodiversity. 🔍
3rd Grade: Bridging Listening to Reading Now, students are reading more independently, and CKLA helps them tackle more sophisticated texts in units like "The Ancient Roman Empire," "Astronomy," and "Immigration." They learn words like emperor, celestial, and immigrant. 🏰
4th Grade: Mastering Academic Language Fourth grade dives into subjects like "Early American Civilizations," "Geology," and "The American Revolution." Vocabulary becomes even more crucial for academic success. Words such as Mesoamerica, erosion, and patriot. 🌎
5th Grade: Preparing for Middle School In their final elementary year, students engage with challenging topics like "The Renaissance," "The Civil War," and "Human Anatomy and Physiology." Students learn words like patron, secede and skeletal. 🚀
From their first day to their elementary graduation, we are empowering TCAPS students to own their language!
SCHOOL IS CLOSED: All TCAPS schools are closed today, Wednesday, January 14, 2026 due to inclement weather. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
For more information on snow days, including how they are communicated and how decisions are made, go to www.tcaps.net.
