When we study Language Arts, we study the art or our Language: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. These four areas are taught in a block of two hours and twenty minutes per day. This allows for more integrated and connected learning, since the four areas cannot be learned in isolation. The grades given are Writing (Quantity & Quality), Reading, Language Arts Skills, and Spelling.

The texts that are used in Language Arts are Literature Treasures by Harcourt Brace, a condensed literary-based program, and selected novels. English grammar is taken from All Write Handbook. The All Write Handbook is an excellent resource for review and practice. Throughout the year we will study the various genres of literature and students will practice their writing skills within those genres. The novels that we have so far are In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Betty Bao Lord, The Cay, by Ted Taylor, Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt, Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli, and the Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling. Throughout the year I will be utilizing more novels. Students will be using Literature Circles to investigate their novels. The variety of assignments and assessments will be diverse in order to accurately obtain information regarding a student’s conceptual understanding of information.

The routine set up for Spelling is using the text, Houghton Mifflin’s Spelling and Vocabulary as follows: Each unit takes one week to complete. On Monday the new unit vocabulary words are introduced and students complete the word study practice work. Each student is assigned a word card to complete illustrating (through drawings, illustrations, pictures, or other medium) their spelling word. Tuesdays the word cards are due and students complete the word practice. Wednesdays the pretest is given. Only students, regardless of spelling word target, who score 25 of 25 words correctly will have the final test on Friday waived. The goal of having students complete the final test if they have already accomplished their weekly target is to build a broader vocabulary. Thursday, editing, proofreading, and dictionary/thesaurus practice is assigned. On Friday, the final test is given to all "eligible" students.

Often a writing assignment will come home that needs to be proofread by an adult. When stories/essays come home, please be sure to make corrections, using another color ink and sign it. Your signature will be points toward that assignment. Checklists or rubrics will always accompany the assignment and the elements that will be graded. Thanks ahead of time for your cooperation.