Targeted and Effective NJSLA-A Strategies for Social Studies

Strengthen social studies NJSLA-A results with ELA-aligned reading, writing, and vocabulary strategies.

This professional development session equips Social Studies teachers with strategies to improve student performance on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments Adaptive (NJSLA-A), particularly the ELA components embedded within social studies content. The workshop centers on aligning reading and writing strategies with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) for ELA. Participants engage in practical activities to explore evidence-based reading, writing, and vocabulary techniques tailored for social studies classrooms. The session emphasizes leveraging ELA skills to enhance comprehension, critical thinking, and performance on NJSLA-A aligned tasks.

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Core Needs Addressed

  • A lack of integration between ELA skills and social studies instruction that can hinder student performance on NJSLA-A assessments.

  • Difficulty preparing students for NJSLA-A question formats.

  • Challenges in teaching students to analyze informational texts and respond with evidence-based written answers.

Key Learnings

  1. Implement Close Reading and Annotation Techniques in Social Studies Contexts: Teachers will learn how to guide students through multiple, purpose-driven readings of complex texts using structured annotation strategies. This builds deeper text comprehension and prepares students to extract relevant evidence efficiently.

  2. Design and Use Text-Dependent Questions to Develop Analytical Thinking: Educators will practice creating and applying questions that require students to cite textual evidence rather than rely on prior knowledge or opinion. This promotes analytical skills crucial for success on the NJSLA and for interpreting primary and secondary sources in social studies.

  3. Integrate Writing Strategies Like Claims-Evidence-Reasoning (C-E-R) to Strengthen Argumentation: Participants will explore how to scaffold students’ writing using the C-E-R framework, helping them craft coherent arguments supported by textual evidence. They will also learn how to construct and evaluate NJSLA-aligned writing prompts and rubrics.

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Related Content

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Targeted and Effective NJSLA-A Strategies for Social Studies

Strengthen social studies NJSLA-A results with ELA-aligned reading, writing, and vocabulary strategies.

Led by our team of Instructional Strategists

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Last Updated

Apr 15, 2026 2:50 PM

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Designed for School Leaders asking...

How can we integrate ELA-aligned literacy strategies into social studies instruction to produce measurable gains on NJSLA-A performance?

What instructional practices will ensure students demonstrate strong evidence-based reading, writing, and vocabulary skills within social studies contexts?

How do we build teacher capacity to embed standards-aligned literacy instruction that improves comprehension, critical thinking, and assessment outcomes?

This workshop helped me better understand the challenges families face and gave me practical strategies to strengthen communication and engagement. I now feel more confident in building supportive partnerships with families to improve student success.

Jen Soloman

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As a result of this work

As a result of this work, educators will integrate ELA-aligned reading and writing strategies into social studies instruction, ensuring students strengthen comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills to improve performance on NJSLA-A tasks. Teachers will leave with practical strategies, evidence-based literacy techniques, and classroom activities that support standards-aligned instruction and enhance student success on assessment-aligned work.

Workshop Description

This professional development session equips Social Studies teachers with strategies to improve student performance on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments Adaptive (NJSLA-A), particularly the ELA components embedded within social studies content. The workshop centers on aligning reading and writing strategies with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) for ELA. Participants engage in practical activities to explore evidence-based reading, writing, and vocabulary techniques tailored for social studies classrooms. The session emphasizes leveraging ELA skills to enhance comprehension, critical thinking, and performance on NJSLA-A aligned tasks.

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Designed for Today's Schools

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Educators will confidently

Educators will confidently integrate evidence-based reading, writing, and vocabulary strategies into social studies instruction to support performance on NJSLA-A-aligned tasks. This work supports district priorities by building instructional alignment and strengthening students’ comprehension, critical thinking, and assessment readiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes your workshops different from traditional professional development or other providers?

Our approach goes beyond one-size-fits-all professional development. We hold ourselves to rigorous standards of quality and delivery in every client interaction, ensuring that each experience is meaningful, relevant, and impactful. We don’t just deliver workshops—we build long-term partnerships with schools and districts, working alongside educators to improve instructional practices and student outcomes over time.

We actively listen to educators’ unique contexts and experiences, using that insight to collaboratively design tailored solutions rather than pre-packaged sessions. Our team asks thoughtful questions, challenges assumptions, and continuously learns so we can help redefine what’s possible in teaching and learning.

Above all, we communicate authentically, foster positive and productive relationships, and bring a deep passion and commitment to education. The result is professional learning that feels purposeful, personalized, and truly transformative.

Who are your workshops designed for?

Our workshops are designed for educators and school leaders, including teachers, instructional coaches, school administrators, and district teams. Each session is tailored to the specific audience to ensure content is relevant, practical, and immediately applicable.

What does a typical workshop look like?

Our workshops are interactive, engaging, and grounded in real classroom practice. Each experience is intentionally designed using the principles of andragogy, sound instructional design, and the core constructs of effective professional development to ensure relevance, coherence, and impact. Participants engage in discussion, reflection, planning, and application activities — not just passive listening. Educators leave with concrete strategies and next steps they can implement right away.

How long are your workshops?

We offer flexible formats, including half-day, full-day, and multi-session series. We can also design ongoing professional learning experiences to support sustained implementation over time.

What delivery methods are available for your workshops?

We offer flexible delivery options to meet the needs of schools and districts, including in-person sessions, live virtual workshops, and asynchronous learning through our applied learning platform. Regardless of format, all experiences are designed to be interactive, engaging, and collaborative, with structures that promote meaningful participation and application of learning.

What kind of follow-up support is available?

We believe professional learning is most effective when it’s sustained. In addition to workshops, we offer instructional coaching, implementation planning, and follow-up sessions to help teams translate learning into practice and drive meaningful results.

Who facilitates the workshops?

Inspired Instruction’s workshops are facilitated by a nationwide team of expert Instructional Strategists.  Our facilitators bring diverse experience as classroom educators, instructional coaches, principals, directors, and superintendents, spanning all content areas. We thoughtfully match your specific needs with a facilitator whose expertise aligns to ensure the learning experience is relevant, practical, and impactful for your staff.

How much does it cost to bring a workshop to my school or district?

We offer a range of pricing options designed to meet the needs of different schools and districts. Our Client Directors work closely with you to understand your goals, scope, and budget, and will partner with you to design a high-quality professional learning experience that fits within your financial framework.

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