Language Arts in Elementary School

For many parents, the term language arts is quite ambiguous. We know it has something to do with reading, and writing, and maybe even sentence structure, but we really have not idea. Here is what the typical student learns in language arts class.

In the first grade, students will learn phonics or other learning to read skills. They will learn key sight words such as those involving body parts, numbers, and other common words. They will learn about syllables, and begin building their vocabulary. First graders will also learn suffixes (word endings). They will learn to pick out the main idea in a story, and to capitalize and punctuate sentences. They will also learn sequencing (retelling a story in order). Other first grade language art skills include contractions, plurals, opposites, spelling, rhyming, and the beginnings of writing sentences.

In the second grade, language arts consists of listening and speaking skills, Reading fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing. Writing skills include recording and developing ideas, and writing letters and poems. In second grade, penmanship, capitalization and punctuation are enforced. Students are also expected to spell proficiently and use research tools.

In the third grade, language arts consists of learning more of the concepts of the previous year. Study just becomes more in-depth. In writing, they must be able to record ideas and reflections. They must be able to discover, develop, and refine ideas, communicate to a variety of audiences, and pen invitations, thank you notes, stories or poems, and to write outlines and summaries. Students must also be able to evaluate his or her own writing, and that of others. New spelling skills include proficiency in patterns such as consonant-vowel-consonant words, consonant-vowel-consonant-silent e words, and one-syllable words with blends. Student will also work on contractions, compound words, and homonyms.

In the fourth grade, students once again enforce previous concepts. Further language arts study includes critical listening skills, which includes interpreting messages, identifying persuasive techniques, and distinguishing between opinion and fact. Appreciation of spoken language in emphasized. They will study the correlations between language and culture. Speaking skills such as diction, interviewing, interpretation, volume, pitch, tone, directions, and clarification will be taught. In vocabulary, synonyms, word derivatives, prefixes, and affixes are emphasized. In reading comprehension, a student will need to monitor his own comprehension, describe mental images, and to use chronology to recall information. Students will also be taught organization that will help them with research and to read and interpret graphs and other sources of information. Grammar includes subject/ verb agreement, and identifying parts of speech.

In the fifth grade, in addition to reinforcing previously learned concepts students will learn root words to enable them to expand vocabulary on their own and learn to locate meanings, pronunciations, and derivatives of unfamiliar words. They will begin reading classic and contemporary books like Shakespeare, Mark Twain, and Alice in Wonderland. They must be able to recognize different literary forms and discuss the author's point of view. In reading comprehension, a student will learn to paraphrase and summarize text, and draw inferences and conclusions or generalizations. In writing, they must be able to express themselves, discover record, develop, reflect on ideas, and to problem solve. They also need to influence, persuade, and argue, inform, report, and narrate in writing. The ability to proofread is very important.

This list is by no means exhaustive. As you can see each year, the same skills are taught and built upon. Language arts include reading, writing, grammar skills, listening, speaking, vocabulary, and the ability to correct grammar errors. All of these skills should be mastered by fifth grade.