During their time at Hommocks Middle School, students are developing their lives as readers and writers. How will their experiences in middle school shape the readers, writers, and young adults they will become? What kinds of texts will they begin to seek out on their own? What writing techniques will they solidify and which new writing strategies will they venture to use? What will their reading and writing rituals become?

The literacy program at Hommocks promotes both intellectual and personal growth as students discover the literary luminaries inside themselves. Teachers engage students in reading and writing experiences that are varied, and that span across genres, texts, and authors.

A balanced literacy approach to teaching allows students multiple entry points for developing in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Generally, the framework includes  minilessons, teacher read-alouds, shared reading experiences, guided reading, independent reading, modeled writing, shared writing, interactive writing, independent writing, and word study. Students have access to flexible grouping, such as in guided reading or writing groups, reading or writing strategy groups, and book clubs.  Through observation and interaction, teachers select appropriate teaching strategies and instructional approaches to address the needs of students. Teachers provide students with ongoing response and feedback as they continue to monitor and assess student progress and needs.