The Language Arts curriculum focuses on improving grammar, vocabulary, and spelling skills – all essentials for great writing!
In addition to these areas, we work closely with the Reading Department to align our curriculums and to develop best practices that support reading for our scholars.
Accelerated Reader (AR) tests numerous books that are used to promote reading and reading comprehension.
The Junior Great Books program (grades 2-5) and the Junior
Great Books Round Table (grades 6-8) combines high-quality
fiction and nonfiction literature, student-centered discussion,
and activities that support reading comprehension, critical
thinking, speaking and listening, and writing. It provides
outstanding classroom materials. It helps students get the most
out of reading and interacting with their teachers and
classmates, while providing instruction and support in Shared
InquiryTM, a method of learning that gives teachers the
approach they need to help their students succeed.
Shared InquiryTM is in inquiry-based approach to learning to
assist students with become independent readers and thinkers.
While this is used with Junior Great books, we have integrated
this methodology into other areas of our curriculum (Social
Studies, Science and Math). Shared Inquiry uses the following
techniques:
• Balancing literary and informational texts
• Building knowledge in the disciplines
• Providing a staircase of text complexity
• Requiring text-based answers
• Focusing on evidence in writing
• Expanding vocabulary
The Schoolwide Enrichment Model - Reading Framework
(SEM-R) is an enrichment-based reading program, based on the
model created by Sally Reis and Joseph Renzulli, both pioneers
in Gifted Curriculum. The program is designed to:
• Stimulate interest in and enjoyment of reading
• Promote and develop higher reading achievement
• Improve self-regulation and automaticity in reading
• Encourage students to select high-interest books that
are slightly to moderately above their current reading
levels
• Create independent, lifelong readers
Students learn, practice, and master a set of skills and attitudes that are embedded in and continuously used throughout the units that are central to success in the English Language Arts classroom. At these levels, students are on their way to becoming independent readers, writers, and learners.