Unified Literacy

Building an Inclusive Community

of

Readers, Learners, and Leaders

National Unified Champion School

Three (3) Pillars:

• Unified® sports program
• inclusive youth leadership
• whole school engagement

​

Mission Statement- Morse Unified Programs

• Provide students, teachers, administrators, and coaches the opportunity to create an inclusive school environment that helps end the stigma of intellectual disabilities.

• Semester course (.5 credit)

• Inclusion model that brings students of all abilities together to build a community of learners

• Uses reading partners, table talk, board games, art integration, and field trips

Course

Description

​

• Orientation and training provided the first week of class

Course

Description

​

• Students wanting to pursue a career in education, social services, business, or non-profit are encouraged to enroll

• Can be taken multiple times for credit

• Grades 9 - 12

• Strengthen literacy skills

• Build a community of learners

• Encourage empathy

• Be seen, heard, recognized, and understood

Unified

Literacy

Goals

• Promote inclusion

Common Core Standards

• Reading

• Writing

• Speaking and Listening

• Art

Curriculum

Words Have Power

(Overarching Theme)

​

• Lesson plan units- change annually

​

• Examples of learning units:
• Iditarod
• Jim Dine, pop artist
• Gee’s Bend Quilters
• National Poetry Month (April)

Budget

• Ruth’s Reusable Resources

​

• Donations

​

• School-funded budget

​

​

Class Schedule and Location

• Co-teaching model
• Meets 3 days per week:
• Two- 55 minute classes
• One- 73 minute class
• Library- our classroom

​

Student Learning Partners

• Sign-Up
• Selection
• Orientation
• Student Team Leader
• Partner Rotation

Instructional Design

9 Key Components

Reading and Learning Partners

“This Is What I Read” Class Presentations

Reading to Preschoolers

Writing

Board Games, Cards, Legos, and Puzzles

Promotes:

​

• reading and listening skills

​

• collaboration and team building

​

• being seen and heard

Field Trips

• Bowdoin College Arctic Museum
• Peaks Island
• Sea Dogs Baseball Game
• Portland Head Light
• Maine Maritime Museum
• Portland Museum of Art
• Patten Free Library
• Curtis Memorial Library

Art

Process vs Product

• Promotes freedom of creative expression

• Gain independence, self-esteem, and confidence

• Practice fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination

Community Connections

Janice Wright, Muralist

Alex Therriault, Musher

Wendy Ulmer, Author-In-Residence

4th Annual

Art and Poetry Gala

​

May 29, 2025

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Morse High School

Student Testimonials

Avery

Eli

Noah

Ava

Emma

Hunter

Jim Dine Art Project

Unified Literacy Is The Heart of Our Community

Today’s Community Art Project

• We learned about the pop artist, Jim Dine.

​

• We used squeegees to paint canvases like Jim Dine.

​

• Jim Dine signed our class photo!

Art Project- Step 1

• The supplies you need for this project are in your art bag.

• You will use:
• Paint Sticks
• Heart Patterns (3)
• Black Sharpie©

Art Project- Step 2

• Use a black Sharpie© to write your name on the back of the canvas.

Art Project- Step 3

• Use different colored paint sticks to fill your canvas with color.

Art Project- Step 4

• Choose the heart you want to trace on your canvas.
• You can trace more than one heart.
• You can use a paint stick or your black Sharpie© for tracing.

Art Project- Step 5

• You have created a beautiful Jim Dine heart painting!

​

• Great job!

​

• Keep your art work.

​

• Please return your art tray, paint sticks, and black Sharpie®.

​

• Thank you!

We Look Forward to Meeting You Today!

Want to Know More? Visit Us at Morse High School