Language Arts 5 (1.0 Credit)

The 5th grade Language Arts curriculum integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening, and the study of vocabulary and grammar in a way that engages today’s learners and supports them in building a broad and diverse set of literacy skills. Students study classic literature as well as more contemporary forms, including media and multimedia products. Writing assignments in semester A focus on narrative and persuasive modes and emphasize the use of reasoning and details to support opinions. Each writing assignment spans several lessons and guides students through a writing process that begins with prewriting and ends by emphasizing one or more aspects of conventions of standard written English. Students also learn how to participate in collaborative discussion and peer review sessions. In each lesson, engaging and relevant models and step-by-step instruction guide students toward mastery and appreciation of 21st century communication in all its forms and functions. The second half of the class focuses on skills needed to literary text, the course focuses on skills for reading and analyzing informational text. Students learn how informational text differs from literary text and how different forms of information text differ from each other. Writing assignments emphasize expository writing and guide students through research projects. Students will also learn how to present information orally and using multimedia.

Semester A:

• Because of Winn Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

Semester B:

• Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
• Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
• Island of the Blue Dolphin by Scott O’Del