English Language Arts
Yinghua Academy’s English Language Arts (ELA) program is built on evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading and the Minnesota Read Act while supporting our unique Mandarin immersion model. Following a comprehensive review of research-based programs, the school selected UFLI Foundations as its core English literacy curriculum because of its explicit, systematic approach to phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, encoding, and reading fluency. In Kindergarten and Grade 1, students develop foundational literacy primarily in Mandarin using resources that build reading, vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension, creating a strong foundation for bilingual literacy.
As students progress through Grades 2–8, English literacy instruction expands through UFLI Foundations while Mandarin literacy continues to grow through authentic literature and high-quality instructional resources. Instruction emphasizes vocabulary, morphology, grammar, fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking in both languages. Teachers collaborate regularly, participate in ongoing professional learning, and use student data to monitor progress and refine instruction. By combining evidence-based English literacy practices with rich Mandarin language experiences, Yinghua Academy provides a rigorous biliteracy program that equips students with the skills to become confident, capable readers, writers, and communicators in both English and Mandarin.
Additional Resources:
The link below contains the Minnesota State Standards for ELA which went into effect in the 2025-26 school year as well as the previous state standards:
The link below contains Yinghua Academy’s Local Literacy Plan.