elementary language arts

Grades 1-6
Students will build strong language skills and a love for reading in these interactive and engaging classes. Reading skills are developed and mastered while a love for literature is fostered through exposure to a wide range of classic literature, novels, short stories, and poetry.
Class time emphasizes activities which are well suited to a group setting and professional teacher interactions.
  • Review of select leveled coursework across the curriculum
  • Guided group instruction
  • Reading comprehension strategies and skills
  • Grammar tips and games
  • Writing instruction and guided writing activities
  • Literary Modeling
  • Vocabulary building activities
  • Phonics reinforcement
  • Fluency and speed reading support
  • Spelling games
  • Listening skills
  • Note taking skills
  • Dictation
  • Teamwork and leadership development
  • Literature discussions
  • Group projects
  • Reader’s Theater
  • Poetry skills
  • Biblical values and character development support
  • Public speaking and presentation skills
  • Critical Thinking skills
Coursework over each 1 or 2 year period may include (but is not limited to) the following:
  • Phonics understanding (Kindervine & grades 1-2)
  • Reading comprehension strategies and skills with critical thinking (see below)
  • Spelling skills
  • Vocabulary building
  • Fluency development
  • Grammar instruction with diagramming
  • Handwriting (print in grades 1-2, cursive grades 3-4)
  • Sentence construction
  • Paragraph development
  • Essay Writing
  • Editing Skills
  • Copy work of interesting literary works (grades 1-2)
  • Literary devices
  • Literature appreciation
  • Writing of various types:  personal stories, friendly letters, descriptive paragraphs, how-to paragraphs, research reports, persuasive essays, narrative stories, tall tales, book reports/reviews, poetry, compare-contrast essays, instructions, business letter, expressive essays, expository essays, news stories, and play writing
Elementary Language Arts classes will meet for 95 minutes on Mondays during the 2019-2020 school year.

first & Second grade​ - Language Arts 

Prerequisites:
Grade 1: At least 5 years old by September 1 with the ability to pass a reading and writing placement test demonstrating successful completion of a kindergarten level or successful completion of LV Language Arts course at these levels ​
​Grade 2: Ability to pass the 1st grade reading and writing placement tests or successful completion of LV Language Arts course at these levels ​
  • Curriculum: Harcourt Trophies, Harcourt Language, Various Literary Selections 

third & fourth grade (2 year cycle)

Prerequisites
Grade 3: Ability to pass the reading and writing placement tests demonstrating successful completion of a 2nd grade language arts course 
Grade 4: Ability to pass the reading and writing placement test demonstrating successful completion of a 3rd grade language arts course 
Curriculum:  Bob Jones Writing and Grammar, Harcourt Trophies and other resources. ​

fifth & sixth grade (2 year cycle)

Prerequisites
Grade 5: Ability to pass a reading and writing placement test demonstrating successful completion of a 4rd grade language arts course 
Grade 6: Ability to pass a reading and writing placement test demonstrating successful completion of a 5th grade language arts course or successful completion of LV Language Arts 5 
Curriculum: Bob Jones Writing and Grammar and Various Resources 
Combined Grades
Some of our grade levels are combined as shown above. Homework and testing are grade specific for each elementary level. Writing is graded by the teacher with the student's actual grade level in mind.
Critical Thinking and Reading Comprehension
These skills are systematically taught in LV language arts coursework. These skills are the cornerstone for all subjects and are of paramount importance to establish a solid foundation for learning.
  • Determining Narrative Elements
  • Understanding Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots
  • Locating information
  • Realizing Cause and Effect
  • Summarizing
  • Drawing Conclusions
  • Understanding Symbolism                          
  • Thematic Elements
  • Poetic Devices
  • Literary Devices
  • Comparing and Contrasting
  • Identifying Main Ideas / Details
  • Sequencing
  • Identifying Elements of Non-Fiction
  • Realizing the Author’s Purpose
  • Distinguishing Fact from Opinion
  • Exploring Word Relations