Mirrors & Windows: Connecting with Literature

by EMC School Publishing

ElaGrades 6–12

About This Curriculum

<cite index="2-5,2-6">A seven-level program built on a collection of rich, diverse, and timeless writings by renowned, award-winning authors, aligned to Common Core State Standards</cite>.

What makes it unique: <cite index="11-9,11-10">Inspired by the mirror and window metaphor used by authors such as Sydney J. Harris, Emily J. Style, and Rudine Sims Bishop, diverse literary, informational, and primary-source texts challenge students to make comparisons and extend critical thinking beyond themselves and into the world</cite>.

Mirrors & Windows: Literature-Based ELA Curriculum with Mixed Alignment

Mirrors & Windows: Connecting with Literature is a comprehensive seven-level ELA curriculum for grades 6-12 that centers on diverse literary selections from renowned authors. The program emphasizes independent reading skills development and cross-textual comparisons through an abundance of reading selections across multiple genres.

Best for

Secondary schools seeking a literature-rich ELA curriculum with diverse, high-quality texts and Common Core alignment, particularly those prioritizing independent reading skills over systematic knowledge building

Evaluation Criteria

1 strength · 2 concerns · 1 neutral · 5 insufficient evidence

Text ComplexityStrength

The curriculum demonstrates strong alignment to grade-level text complexity demands with high-quality literary selections.

EdReports rated Gateway 1 (Text Quality & Complexity) as 'Meets Expectations,' and the program features 'rich, diverse, and timeless writings by renowned, award-winning authors'

Knowledge RichConcern

The curriculum received only partial alignment for building knowledge through texts, indicating limited systematic domain knowledge development.

EdReports rated Gateway 2 (Building Knowledge) as 'Partially Meets Expectations,' suggesting gaps in systematic knowledge building through the literary selections

Whole Books Vs ExcerptsConcern

The curriculum appears to emphasize reading selections and comparisons across texts rather than sustained engagement with complete works.

Reviews mention 'an abundance of reading selections across multiple genres to encourage comparisons across texts' and 'numerous texts for independent reading,' suggesting a selection-based rather than whole-book approach

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum includes extensive supplementary resources but specific teacher training components are not detailed.

Learning List notes 'extensive supplementary resources for differentiation and assessment' but does not specify professional development materials

Direct InstructionInsufficient Evidence

The curriculum appears to emphasize independent reading skills development, but specific instructional approaches are not detailed.

Reviews mention 'development of independent reading skills' but do not specify whether instruction is explicit and direct or discovery-based

Retrieval PracticeInsufficient Evidence

No evidence provided about retrieval practice or spaced review components in the curriculum design.

Reviews do not mention assessment strategies, review cycles, or retrieval practice elements

Systematic PhonicsInsufficient Evidence

As a grades 6-12 literature-based program, systematic phonics instruction is not applicable to this curriculum's scope.

The curriculum serves secondary grades (6-12) where phonics instruction is typically not the primary focus

Vocabulary BuildingInsufficient Evidence

Insufficient evidence provided about explicit vocabulary instruction approaches within the literary selections.

Reviews do not specifically address vocabulary building strategies or systematic word knowledge development

Writing InstructionInsufficient Evidence

No specific evidence provided about the structure or approach to writing instruction in this ELA curriculum.

Reviews focus on reading selections and literary analysis without mentioning writing instruction components

Review Sources

web_search

Learning List

edreports

EdReports Panel

Gateway 1 Alignment:Meets Expectations
Gateway 2 Alignment:Partially Meets Expectations
Key Facts
GradesGrades 6–12
SubjectEla
PedagogyLiterature Based
Faith-BasedNo
FormatDigital + Physical

Looking for something different?

If none of these options feel right, explore a non-traditional approach. Pallas Center offers a unique curriculum, or design your own with Palladay.

Data sources: edreports