English Language Arts

Of course, if you have real access to real books and magazines in your home, that is great! Dive in! If you are looking for additional text, there are many options.

Anchorage Public Library has many online resources that you can access with or without a library card. If you have a library card then they can help you set up checkout services through apps like Overdrive, Libby, and Hoopla.  Children will generally need guidance with library apps, as they can access ALL the books in the online library, some of which won't be appropriate for young children.

Epic! Books is free for students to access through Clever.

SORA is an app that links to your child's school district library account.  Students will need to use their district credentials to log in. Please see the help document at the bottom of the page for additional information.  You can also contact our school librarian, Krystal Rettkowski, for additional information.

A librarian friend from Nashville shared a document with links to lots of authors reading aloud their books online during the pandemic. Parents should investigate these links before sharing with children.  

There are many natural activities to do with writing.  Keep in mind that fourth and fifth graders are still learning many of the conventions of writing (grammar, spelling, etc.), and first drafts should focus on content and just getting ideas down on the page in a way that makes sense.  At school we usually take a multi-step approach to writing tasks for a real audience:

1. Generate ideas through talking or brainstorming

2. Organize ideas using a graphic organizer

3. First draft

4. Revise for clarity and add detail

5. Edit

6. Final draft

Keep a journal: these are notable times and our descendants will be curious to know what it was like to live during this time period.  Write a little each day about what you do with your time and what you notice around you. Don't forget to put a date at the top of each entry.

Write letters and postcards to family and friends: it is important to stay connected to other people you care about.  Write to them and fill them in on what is going on in your life right now. Share jokes and funny stories.

Kate DiCamillo, one of our favorite authors (Because of Winn Dixie, the Mercy Watson series, the Bink and Gollie series, The Tale of Desperaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and many more) has created a little video to get you started writing a story. Parents can access this video on YouTube.

Fourth and fifth graders are learning how to type. This is best done in 10-20 minute increments daily. Emphasize good posture and keeping fingers on the home row.  We use Typing Agent at school and your child can access this website through Clever on the ASD student page.