Darden-Perry Academy

K–12 Literary Arts at Darden-Perry Academy

We believe every student is a storyteller and thinker.

Our K–12 Literary Arts program:

• Builds a strong foundation in language, vocabulary, and communication

• Honors ASL and English as equal, powerful languages for learning and expression

• Invites students to see themselves in the texts they read and the pieces they create

• Provides extra challenge and enrichment for gifted and advanced learners

• Encourages students to use their voices for identity, justice, creativity, and community

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K–2: Discovering Stories & Voice

Focus: Joyful introduction to stories, language, and self-expression.

Students in kindergarten through 2nd grade:

• Listen to and view picture books, folktales, and short stories

• Engage in ASL storytelling and shared reading in English

• Learn to talk/sign about characters, settings, and favorite parts

• Begin writing:

  • Labels, lists, and simple sentences

  • Short personal stories and class books

Experiences include:

• Daily story time in ASL and English

• Acting out stories, using costumes, props, and role-play

• Class “author’s chair” to share drawings and early writing

• Early exposure to poems, rhymes, and chants

Gifted/advanced students are offered:

• More complex picture books with deeper themes

• Extended writing tasks (multi-sentence stories, “All About Me” books)

• Opportunities to help lead retellings or create new endings to stories

Grades 3–5: Growing as Readers & Writers

Focus: Moving from enjoying stories to thinking about how stories work.

Students in grades 3–5:

• Read a range of literature:

  • Chapter books and middle-grade novels

  • Poetry and short stories

  • Myths, legends, and culturally diverse texts

• Discuss:

  • Character motivations

  • Themes (friendship, courage, fairness, identity)

  • How setting and plot shape a story

• Write:

  • Narratives (personal stories, realistic fiction, fantasy)

  • Opinion pieces with reasons and examples

  • Informational pieces and simple reports

Experiences include:

• Literature circles with shared roles (summarizer, connector, question-creator)

• Poetry writing and performance (in ASL and English)

• Author studies and “book clubs”

• Visual storytelling (comics, storyboards, digital slides)

Gifted/advanced students may:

• Read above-grade-level texts and participate in enriched discussions

• Take on more complex writing projects (longer stories, multi-paragraph essays)

• Lead small groups or create independent projects (e.g., class magazine, podcast, or signed story series)

Grades 6–8: Craft, Analysis, and Perspective

Focus: Developing craft as writers and critical thinking as readers.

Students in grades 6–8:

• Read:

  • Novels (classic and contemporary)

  • Short stories and drama

  • Poetry, spoken word, and ASL literature

  • Literary nonfiction and memoir

• Analyze:

  • Theme, symbolism, and point of view

  • How authors use language and structure

  • How identity, culture, and history show up in texts

• Write:

  • Narrative pieces with developed characters and conflict

  • Literary analysis paragraphs and essays

  • Argumentative and explanatory pieces

Experiences include:

• Socratic seminars and structured discussions in ASL and English

• Creative writing units (fiction, poetry, monologues, scripts)

• Multimedia projects combining signed performance, art, and written text

• Close reading of both print texts and ASL stories/performances

Gifted/advanced students may:

• Participate in advanced literature groups using more complex texts

• Tackle extended writing projects (short story collections, poetry chapbooks, scripts)

• Engage in independent or small-group study of an author, genre, or theme

• Enter writing contests or share work at school literary events

Grades 9–12: Literary Study, Voice, and Impact

Focus: College- and career-ready skills plus authentic literary voice.

Students in grades 9–12:

• Study:

  • Canonical and contemporary literature

  • Diverse authors from many cultures and backgrounds

  • Essays, speeches, and literary nonfiction

  • ASL literature and performance pieces

• Analyze:

  • Complex themes, structures, and styles

  • Historical, social, and cultural contexts of literature

  • Rhetorical strategies in speeches and essays

• Write:

  • Literary analysis essays

  • Research-informed literary and cultural criticism

  • Personal narratives, memoirs, and reflective pieces

  • Original creative work (poetry, short fiction, plays, multi-genre projects)

Experiences include:

• Seminar-style classes with rich discussion and text-based argument

• Workshops where students draft, revise, and publish their writing

• Exploration of literature in translation and ASL, comparing modes and meaning

• Performance-based projects (spoken word, staged readings, ASL storytelling showcases)

Gifted/advanced students may:

• Enroll in Honors or advanced Literary Arts courses

• Pursue AP or dual-enrollment English when available

• Complete a Literary Arts capstone, such as:

  • A senior portfolio of creative and analytical work

  • A directed study of a literary movement, author, or social issue

  • An original ASL literary performance with critical commentary

Bilingual-Bimodal Literary Arts: ASL & English

Across K–12, students engage with Literary Arts in both ASL and English.

This includes:

• Viewing and creating ASL stories, poems, and performances

• Comparing ASL and written English versions of stories and texts

• Translating ideas between ASL and English, building deep conceptual understanding

• Honoring students’ home language modes while expanding academic language

Literature becomes a space where signing, reading, writing, and performing are equally valued.

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