A best-practice in language arts curriculum planning includes coordinating instruction with teachers of other subjects. This means:

• A. Aligning texts and activities across subjects through regular planning
• B. Using district curriculum only with no cross-subject integration
• C. Planning only within language arts
• D. Ignoring other teachers' input

Answer: (C)

Coordinating instruction with teachers of other subjects means planning together so literacy goals are supported across different content areas. When teachers regularly align what students read, write, and discuss in language arts with activities in science, social studies, or math, students build vocabulary, comprehension strategies, and writing skills in authentic contexts. For example, a science unit can include a reading passage, note-taking, and a written explanation that mirrors the writing tasks students will do in language arts, while math or social studies tasks reinforce the same language and thinking you’re aiming for in literacy. This cross-subject planning creates coherence, helps students transfer literacy skills to real-world content, and allows for aligned assessments and feedback.

Choosing to keep planning within language arts only, rely on district curriculum without cross-subject collaboration, or ignore input from other teachers undermines these benefits, because it misses the opportunity to apply literacy skills across the full range of student learning.