NOCCS teachers follow the guidelines for classroom instruction as set out by the Foundation for Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning (CELL). CELL’s eight core instructional strategies are a research-based framework for teaching to the California English/Language Arts Content Standards, including concepts about print, decoding and word recognition, phonemic awareness, comprehension, structural features of texts, and vocabulary development. 

NOCCS teachers use the Writer’s Workshop approach to teach writing conventions and process. Spelling skills are addressed in all classrooms utilizing a developmentally appropriate spelling program incorporating different resources.  There is a schoolwide spelling inventory used to gauge the student’s understanding of phonological patterns in words and guide instruction.

Writing readiness, printing and cursive instruction is taught using the Handwriting Without Tears Program developed by an experienced occupational therapist. The program utilizes a sequential method that makes printing and cursive writing fun, while enabling students to master handwriting skills fluently.  The developmentally-appropriate program is taught one-on-one or in small groups by an adult volunteer.  These brief sessions usually last 5-10 minutes twice a week and are very effective.