Reading Language Arts

Overview

The Reading Language Arts Curriculum and Instruction team firmly believes that literacy is the foundation of academic success and lifelong learning. Grounded in the Science of Reading, our instructional approach is research-based, systematic, and responsive to the developmental needs of students from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Through intentional and standards-aligned planning based on the Reading Language Arts TEKS, RISD educators deliver explicit, systematic instruction that supports all students in becoming competent and confident readers and writers.

In elementary classrooms, daily instruction focuses on foundational reading skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, and encoding. Students also develop oral language, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension through meaningful interactions with a wide range of texts. Instruction is structured, cumulative, and informed by ongoing assessment to meet the needs of all learners.

In secondary classrooms, instruction emphasizes advanced vocabulary, reading fluency, academic language, and comprehension of complex, grade-level texts across content areas. Students are supported in building knowledge, thinking critically, and expressing their ideas effectively through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We integrate SAT preparation into core high school RLA curriculum to help boost college readiness and performance on the SAT.

In RISD, the Science of Reading guides our commitment to ensuring every student receives high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction that prepares them for academic success and lifelong learning.

Savvas MyPerspectives

Savvas myPerspectives serves as the instructional foundation for Secondary RLA in grades 6–12, providing teachers with a clear starting point for planning rigorous, TEKS-aligned instruction. Its intentional lesson design and integrated reading, writing, speaking, and listening experiences help students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed with increasingly complex texts.

Savvas Realize

Savvas Realize is the digital learning platform for myPerspectives. Through Realize, students can access their digital text, assignments, multimedia resources, interactive activities, and other instructional materials. Digital tools also allow students to annotate, highlight, take notes, and interact with texts as they read.

Parents can view the same instructional materials their child uses in class by logging into the Savvas Realize through their child’s ClassLink account.

View the Parent Guide (PDF)

HMH Into Reading

Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, all 36 RISD elementary campuses will begin using HMH Into Reading and ¡Arriba la Lectura! These state-approved High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) provide engaging, research-based instruction that helps students build strong reading, writing, speaking, and language skills. The curriculum is aligned with the Science of Reading, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) to support student success.

Parents can view the same instructional materials their child uses in class by logging into the HMH Ed platform through their child’s ClassLink account.