Language Arts
Reading Class
Our class uses a variety of reading texts. We use our reading textbook for short stories, novels for quality literature, Junior Great Books for discussion groups, Fountas and Pinnell LLI kits for small group instruction, and Accelerated Reading for individualized reading levels. We take weekly vocabulary and comprehension quizzes that relate to our stories. Students read Accelerated Reading books and take quizzes on the computer for comprehension and incentive points. We are following the state mandate of a 90 minute uninterrupted reading block daily.
Writer's Workshop
Students write in their journals, include the 6 Traits in their writing, and follow the steps in the writing process. Students create stories, self/peer edit, and publish their final work. Students will also use the RACE strategy to answer constructed response questions in reading. The RACE strategy helps students answer the question by citing text evidence.
Spelling
Our school corporation adopted the Sitton Spelling program for use in Grades 1 thru 6. It may be different from what you have come to expect as Spelling. This program emphasizes the learning of important words, Core Words, and the review of former Core Words for a lifetime of spelling in the real world. Our goal for your child is to spell these words correctly in any type of writing. This lifelong spelling ability grows over time. It grows through skills instruction (phonics, word origins, spelling rules, usage, etc.), through your child's everyday writing, and through word study of specific words your child has not yet mastered. At the end of each week, the spelling progress will be assessed. The test will include a cloze (fill in the blanks) story word test. The missing words will be from the three lists. The story will be read aloud, including the missing words, and the students will be asked to fill in the blanks, spelling the missing words correctly. They will record any misspelled words in their Words to Learn list in the back of their spelling books. They will also be bringing home a piece of paper on which will be recorded the same words that need to be learned. They will need to record these words on a Words to Learn list that should also be kept in their home spelling folder.