EL Education is an educational organization and curriculum provider that focuses on academic achievement, character development, and meaningful student work. Its approach encourages students to become active learners who develop knowledge, collaborate with others, and contribute to their communities.
Formerly known as Expeditionary Learning, EL Education grew from a partnership between Harvard Graduate School of Education and Outward Bound USA. The organization works with K–12 educators and schools to improve teaching practices and student learning.
EL Education is particularly known for its literacy curriculum, experiential learning approach, and emphasis on real-world projects.
What Is EL Education?
EL Education is a nonprofit educational organization that provides curriculum resources, professional learning, and instructional practices for schools.
Its educational philosophy combines rigorous academic instruction with character development and collaborative learning. Students are encouraged to engage deeply with subjects, develop critical thinking skills, and produce work that has value beyond completing an assignment.
The organization emphasizes three dimensions of student achievement:
- Mastery of Knowledge and Skills
- Character
- High-Quality Student Work
These dimensions aim to support students not only academically but also as responsible and engaged members of society.
The Three Dimensions of EL Education
Mastery of Knowledge and Skills
Students develop a strong understanding of academic subjects and essential skills. This includes reading, writing, mathematics, critical thinking, and subject-specific knowledge.
The focus is on meaningful understanding rather than memorizing information without context.
Character Development
EL Education encourages students to develop positive habits and personal qualities, including:
- Responsibility
- Collaboration
- Empathy
- Perseverance
- Respect
- Self-reflection
These qualities can help students participate effectively in classrooms and communities.
High-Quality Student Work
Students are encouraged to create work that demonstrates understanding and effort. Projects may include presentations, research, written reports, exhibitions, or other meaningful products.
The aim is to help students take pride in their work and connect classroom learning to real-world issues.
What Is Expeditionary Learning?
Expeditionary Learning is the educational approach at the heart of EL Education. It emphasizes hands-on, experiential, and interdisciplinary learning.
Instead of relying exclusively on traditional lectures or textbook exercises, students may participate in investigations, projects, fieldwork, and collaborative activities.
For example, students studying environmental science might:
- Research local environmental challenges.
- Collect and analyze information.
- Interview community members.
- Develop solutions.
- Present their findings to an audience.
EL Education Curriculum
EL Education offers language arts curriculum resources and instructional materials for different grade levels.
Major curriculum areas
| Curriculum | Grade Levels | Main Focus |
| Language Arts | K–5 | Reading, writing, speaking, listening, and content knowledge |
| Language Arts | Grades 6–8 | Standards-based literacy and engaging real-world content |
| Reading Foundations Skills Block | K–2 | Foundational reading skills and structured phonics |
| Unlock Phonics | Grades 3–5 | Phonics instruction and reading skill development |
| Additional Language and Literacy Block (ALL Block) | Grades 3–5 | Reinforcement and extension of literacy instruction |
The exact components and edition available may vary by grade level and implementation.
EL Education Language Arts Curriculum
EL Education’s language arts curriculum is designed to build reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills through content-rich instruction.
Students explore topics connected to literature, science, social studies, and other areas. They engage with authentic texts and use evidence to support their ideas.
The curriculum also emphasizes academic vocabulary, comprehension, writing skills, and collaborative discussions.
Reading Foundations and Phonics
Foundational reading skills are essential for literacy development. EL Education includes structured phonics resources designed to help younger students learn how written language works.
Students may practice:
- Letter-sound relationships
- Phonemic awareness
- Decoding words
- Spelling patterns
- Reading fluency
- Word recognition
These skills help students develop the ability to read increasingly complex texts.
Middle School Language Arts
EL Education also offers language arts curriculum for grades 6–8. This curriculum uses compelling content and standards-based instruction to help students strengthen literacy.
Middle school students engage in reading, writing, discussion, and analysis of texts. The approach encourages students to think critically and communicate ideas clearly.
Benefits of EL Education
Encourages Active Learning
Students participate in discussions, investigations, projects, and collaborative activities. This can help make classroom learning more engaging.
Builds Critical Thinking Skills
Students are encouraged to ask questions, examine evidence, analyze information, and develop their own conclusions.
Supports Literacy Development
The language arts curriculum integrates reading, writing, vocabulary, and content knowledge to strengthen literacy skills.
Develops Character
EL Education emphasizes responsibility, empathy, collaboration, and perseverance as important parts of student achievement.
Connects Learning to the Real World
Projects and experiential activities help students understand how academic knowledge can be applied outside the classroom.
Promotes Student Ownership
Students are encouraged to reflect on their learning, set goals, and take responsibility for the quality of their work.
EL Education vs. Traditional Education
| Feature | EL Education | Traditional Education |
| Teaching approach | Experiential and collaborative | Often teacher-led |
| Student participation | Active involvement | May focus on lectures and exercises |
| Learning activities | Projects, investigations, discussions | Textbooks, worksheets, lectures |
| Academic focus | Knowledge, skills, and application | Subject knowledge and curriculum coverage |
| Character development | Explicitly emphasized | Varies by school |
| Student work | Projects and meaningful demonstrations | Tests, assignments, and classroom tasks |
| Real-world connections | Strong emphasis | Depends on teaching practices |
Traditional education also includes many active and project-based methods. The difference is that EL Education places a structured emphasis on experiential learning, character, and high-quality student work.
Is EL Education Curriculum Free?
EL Education provides openly available curriculum materials and resources through its official website. However, schools may need additional materials, printed books, trade texts, digital platforms, or implementation support.
Access and costs can depend on the curriculum edition, distribution partner, and school’s arrangements.
Teachers and parents can explore resources through the official website:
How Teachers Can Use EL Education
Teachers can implement EL Education principles by:
- Setting clear academic and character learning objectives.
- Selecting meaningful topics connected to real-world experiences.
- Encouraging students to read, research, and investigate.
- Organizing collaborative activities and discussions.
- Providing opportunities for students to create high-quality work.
- Assessing learning through assignments, projects, and reflection.
- Encouraging students to take responsibility for their progress.
The approach can be adapted to classroom needs, grade levels, and local curriculum requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does EL Education stand for?
EL Education was formerly known as Expeditionary Learning. It is an educational organization that focuses on academic achievement, character development, and experiential learning.
Is EL Education a school?
EL Education is primarily an educational organization and curriculum provider. It partners with schools and districts to support curriculum, instruction, and professional learning.
What are the three dimensions of EL Education?
The three dimensions are Mastery of Knowledge and Skills, Character, and High-Quality Student Work.
What grades does EL Education serve?
EL Education supports K–12 educators and schools. Its language arts curriculum includes resources for elementary and middle school grades, with specific components depending on the grade and curriculum edition.
What is Expeditionary Learning?
Expeditionary Learning is a hands-on educational approach that connects academic learning with real-world experiences, collaborative projects, and investigations.
Is EL Education curriculum available online?
Yes. Curriculum plans, instructional resources, and other materials can be explored through the organization’s website. Some implementation materials may be accessed through partner platforms.
What is the main goal of EL Education?
Its main goal is to help students achieve academic excellence while developing character, collaboration skills, and the ability to contribute positively to the world.
Conclusion
EL Education is an educational approach that combines academic rigor, character development, and experiential learning. Its curriculum encourages students to develop knowledge and skills while participating in meaningful projects and collaborative classroom activities.
By focusing on literacy, critical thinking, responsibility, and high-quality student work, EL Education aims to prepare learners for academic success and responsible participation in society.
For teachers and schools seeking a learning approach that connects classroom instruction with real-world experiences, EL Education can be a valuable curriculum and professional learning resource.