Course: 5/6 Language Arts

5th–6th Grade English is a dynamic class designed to strengthen students’ reading, writing, and communication skills through engaging activities and meaningful discussions. This course focuses on building a solid foundation in grammar, creative expression, and literary analysis while fostering confidence in public speaking.

What We’ll Cover:

1. Public Speaking Practice: Each week students will have the opportunity to build their confidence by reciting a Bible verse, sharing a poem, or presenting their own creative writing in front of the class.
2. Introduction to Sentence Diagramming: Students will learn how to diagram sentences, helping them identify and understand the parts of speech and how they work together to form clear, strong sentences.
3. Exploring Classic Poetry: We’ll dive into classic poems, learning how to analyze poetic devices, interpret meaning, and appreciate the beauty and structure of poetry.
4. Creative Writing Foundations: Students will explore the elements of creative writing, such as character development, setting, plot, and dialogue. They’ll apply these skills to craft engaging, original stories.
5. Vocabulary: We will look at Latin and Greek prefixes, suffixes, and root words commonly used in the English language, helping students improve vocabulary, spelling, and skills for decoding new words.
6. Reading/Literature: This will not be covered directly in class, but I will have suggestions of novels and picture books for free reading and include some extension activities that will help students use see word usage, language patterns, and possibly gather ideas for their own writing. Students will be encouraged to keep an observation/commonplace notebook, which they will learn about in class.

This class is designed to help students grow as confident communicators, critical thinkers, and creative writers, all while having fun with language and literature!

Required books:
1. The Creative Writer Level 1: Five Finger Exercises

2. Poetry For the Grammar Stage Student Guide 
Please make sure this book is the workbook and not the anthology, which just has the poems. 
** We will be using the second half of the book, from about page 70 to the end. If you have a book from the 3/4 Language Arts class in a previous year, you may continue using it.

3. Analytical Grammar Level 1

4. Small notebook or pages in binder for commonplace notebook. **This is a new addition to the list. More information will be shared in class.**

I have shared links to purchase these from Rainbow Resource, but you are welcome to find these books anywhere. 
I always suggest contacting Karen at Karen's Kurriculum Korner in Prospect to see if she has any used copies available, which will save you some money.

Class payment options accepted: Venmo, PayPal, check.
A minimum of 6 students must be registered for the course to proceed as scheduled.