The Language Arts Program at the Russell Byers Charter School includes the components, best practices and strategies included in Reader's and Writer's Workshops. During reading instruction, students at all levels are taught how to incorporate the metacognitive strategies that enhance comprehension and strengthen decoding skills. These strategies include, determining importance, inferring, synthesizing, visualizing and developing schema. The overlay of Experiential Learning encourages all learners to become better problem solvers, more in-depth thinkers, and intellectually curious. In order for this to happen, instruction in literacy must include explicit instruction in metacognitive skills and consistent monitoring of the implementation of these skills.

Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension are explicitly taught beginning in 4K and are consistently monitored using various teacher made formative and standardized assessments throughout all grades. Differentiated instruction addresses the needs of all students, which are met in guided reading groups and with follow-up interventions. Teachers use the Harcourt Trophies Literacy Program as a resource and follow the pacing guide and Core Curriculum that are used throughout the Philadelphia Public School District.