Language Arts
Charting Your Course
Language Arts
Charting Your Course
Preschool to Early Elementary
Recommended Course
Simply Smart Phonics
KEYS TO SUCCESS
Whatever language arts curriculum you choose, the following will help you to be more successful
Turn your kids into avid readers. Encourage children to turn to books for information and entertainment. Read as a family and instill a love for quality literature. Much of what your child needs to learn can be obtained by helping them develop a love of reading quality books on a wide range of topics.
Keep a Daily Journal
Daily journaling is one of the most important kinds of writing. It helps children learn to express themselves, develop writing fluency & practice writing summaries of what occurred. More importantly it becomes a record of who they are, what thoughts and feelings they have and how they respond to life.
Write With a Purpose
Language is important because it helps us clarify our own thoughts & connect with others. Good writers learn to express themselves in powerful ways. Focus on meaningful writing activities, such as writing stories, letters, preparing presentations and creating a “kid’s magazine” where they can share their writing with peers. Children are more likely to enjoy writing if there is a reason & their writing will improve much faster.
Integrate Different Disciplines
Incorporate fun writing projects into other academic disciplines being studied. Encourage children to practice writing using a variety of styles & topics. Writing a powerful science article requires different skills from writing a creative story. Varying topics & styles helps keep writing more fun & strengthens writing skils.
Memorize Poetry & Great Words
Memorizing is a great exercise for the mind & provides powerful models for children learning to write. Kids absorb rhythms, structures and styles of good writing. It helps them to develop their own voice and style. They learn how to craft sentences, use descriptive language, and express ideas clearly and creatively. Regularly memorizing poetry, historical quotes, literary excerpts & scriptures (if religious) helps children become better writers.
Start Young
Children start absorbing language even before birth. The question is not, “when should I start teaching my child to read or write”, but “what am I doing from birth to create a stimulating environment that promotes language learning.” Read to your children, play games, let them draw & get comfortable holding a pencil. Encourage writing even in the early stages when it is just scribbles. Instill a love of reading & start exposing them to phonetic principles at an early age.
Elementary to Middle School
Strongly Recommended Courses
Writers Corner
Launching Into Literature
Additional Courses
High School
Independent Exploration for Kids
