Language Arts

Grade 1 students use various levels of reading materials to learn appropriate skills such as comprehension and reading fluency. Phonics skills are taught through activities, games, spelling lessons and a rich literature-based reading program. A love of literature is valued and instilled. Children are encouraged to read silently and aloud, both alone and in small groups. Writing skills are taught through direct instruction and creative writing. Reading and writing skills are both reinforced through writing stories, letters, poetry and informational text. First-graders memorize and recite poetry, becoming familiar with rhyme, rhythm, repetition and imagery. Daily read-alouds are utilized in the classroom and expected at home. Direct instruction in D’Nealian Handwriting is given throughout the year.

Balanced literacy is the goal in Grade 2. The focus is on the five strands of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary. Each week, students are exposed to whole-group read-alouds, guided reading groups and independent reading. Comprehension strategies include predictions, connections, inferences, comparing, questioning, summarizing and synthesizing. Children are required to read at their independent level for a minimum of 20 minutes nightly. By the end of the year, each child is expected to read with fluency and consistent expression on a grade level passage. Spelling instruction consists of the 100 most frequently used words in the English language and common spelling patterns taught through word analysis. Writing instruction is direct and systematic. Teacher modeling guides students through the writing process, which includes brainstorming, organizing ideas, drafting, small-group editing and creating a final draft. Students write narratives, descriptive paragraphs and friendly letters throughout the year. All students are exposed to D’Nealian handwriting and begin instruction in cursive writing mid-year.

Grade 3 students encounter a rich, literature-based reading program that encompasses discussion and written work. The majority of the book selections correlate with the social studies program. Evaluative thinking skills, vocabulary-building activities and literature discussions are practiced in small-group, partner and whole-group activities. Children continue to develop higher-level comprehension skills, reading fluency and reading with expression. Silent reading is regularly scheduled and students are expected to read at home for at least 20 minutes a day. Writing expands each student’s thinking and learning; in addition to the Learning Headquarter’s writing program, students have an opportunity to practice authentic writing skills in journal entries, stories, poems, letters and reports that foster the ability to express ideas with clarity and fluency. The spelling program reviews phonics, links spelling to the language arts and emphasizes the reading–writing connection. Grade 3 teachers begin the year with a review of D’Nealian upper and lower case cursive letters. Children are expected to be secure in their use of cursive writing by the end of third grade. Grammar instruction is taught through games, books and activities that help students better understand sentence and paragraph structure.

The Grade 4 language arts program is integrated throughout the curriculum. The reading program includes independent reading, guided reading, and literature study.  Many of the books coordinate with the yearlong study of California history. Differentiated instruction is achieved through a skill-based reading program in which students practice active reading skills such as questioning, predicting, connecting, visualizing, inferring and sequencing. Independent reading is expected nightly, and monthly book reports or projects require the reading of different genres. Vocabulary development is accomplished through weekly vocabulary study as well as through the literature activities. The spelling program builds upon the general skills and concepts of word study and integrates these into students’ everyday writing. Our standard-based writing program demonstrates, guides and helps students to write independently by providing a structure for daily writing and practices for specific genres.