Language Arts

In Pre-K, we encourage receptive and expressive language skills through exposure to the rich language associated with every school activity. Children participate in class discussions, read-alouds, sing-alongs, and build the listening skills needed to follow multi-step directions. Our goal is to strengthen the students’ phonemic awareness, which is essential for success in reading, writing, and vocabulary development. Listening, speaking, writing, and letter-recognition activities provide a solid foundation for reading readiness. Students also practice fine motor skills and handwriting.

The curriculum is structured around four interrelated categories: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It emphasizes building students’ phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Aligned with the national standards for English Language Arts set by the National Council of Teachers of English, the curriculum nurtures and supports the literacy growth of every child. Students are encouraged to develop a deep appreciation for literature, cultivate a love for reading, and view it as an integral part of their daily lives, becoming confident and capable readers. Through daily immersion in reading, writing, and language-enriching activities, students strengthen their skills. Foundational reading, writing, and handwriting skills are directly taught using multi-sensory programs. We are able to individualize instructional methods and pace to meet the literacy needs of each student.

The curriculum switches from an emphasis on “learning to read” to one on “reading to learn.” The practice focuses on increasing complexity in writing mechanics, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Students work to strengthen their written and oral communication through direct instruction, one-to-one conferencing, and structured and self-guided experiences. The writing process is a central focus linking all curricular areas in middle elementary education. Using a small group format for book discussions, students learn to confidently voice their points of view and make connections between themselves and fictional characters.

In Humanities, students enhance their writing, grammar, and historical thinking skills. Through Writing Workshop, they refine grammar and sentence structure while developing narrative, opinion, persuasive, and researched writing. In history, they explore the characteristics of civilizations, study the diverse Indigenous groups of the early Americas, and examine the arrival of other peoples—focusing on the exchange of knowledge, food, animals, and language, and their lasting impact. Students develop critical thinking, draw connections across time, and consider multiple perspectives, supporting their ideas with historical evidence. They also build map skills and explore how geography shapes and is shaped by human activity.

In English, students focus on reading to enhance their learning. They form teacher-led book clubs to discuss vocabulary, plot, characters, and themes, and participate in whole-class novel reading and discussion. Books connect with our Social-Emotional learning themes of gratitude, compassion in action, courage, and forgiveness. Students also study Greek and Latin roots, providing a foundation for their vocabulary skills.