Language Arts
Literature and communication are the keystones of the Keys language arts program. From the earliest grades, Keys School fosters the love of reading. As students become more proficient readers, they develop an appreciation for the techniques employed by skilled writers. In the upper grades, students learn to pursue their ideas to deeper levels and to express them with originality, fluency of style, and effective vocabulary. Oral expression is emphasized at every grade level. Students develop confidence, organization of thought, and good speaking and listening skills, all important qualities for successful communication. The overall goal of our language arts program is to produce graduates who enjoy reading and who are able to effectively express their own ideas.
Kindergarten
Reading/Literature
- » Learning to read
- » Reading diagnostics
- » Reading groups
- » Class stories
- » Concepts of print
- » Fine Motor
- » Phonetic, inventive spelling
- » Story sequencing
- » Writing stories, thank-you notes, etc.
- » Raising hands to speak, patience
- » Listening skills
- » Following 3-step directions
- » Sharing orally, asking relevant questions
- » Recalling sequences in stories, recipes, etc.
Language
- » Spelling
- · Phonemic awareness, rhymes
- · Sight words
- · Phonetic spelling
- » Phonics
- · Sound/symbol correspondence
- · Blends and initial consonant digraphs
- · Decoding strategies
- » Vocabulary
- · Embedded throughout curriculum
First Grade
Reading/Literature
- » Story components: characters, main ideas, and sequence
- » Poetry
- » Reading Center
- » Class play
- » Journal writing
- » Writer's workshop
- » Name writing
- » Small motor skills
- » Oral presentations
- » Sharing
- » Audience etiquette
- » Following two-step directions
- » Class play
Language
- » Grammar
- · Complete sentences
- · Punctuation
- » Spelling
- · Words their Way
- · Vowel oriented
- · Sight words
- » Phonics
- · Decoding
- · Long/short vowels
- · 2-letter blends
- · Read, Write, & Type
- » Vocabulary
- · Sight-word spelling
- · Compound words
- · Word meanings in literature
Second Grade
Reading/Literature
- » Reading groups
- » Chapter & picture books read aloud
- » Reading fluency
- » Research reading
- » Hand Writing without Tears
- » Journal writing
- » Book reviews
- » Non-Fiction
- » Research reports
- » Poetry, pen pals
- » Writer's workshop, student written/published fiction
- » Presentations
- » Daily read aloud by teacher
- » Class play
Language
- » Grammar
- · Contractions, nouns, verbs, adjectives
- · Daily Oral Language grammar
- » Spelling
- · Dictionary skills
- · Words Their Way
- · Writers Workshop
- » Vocabulary
- · Vocabulary from books
- · Daily Oral Language grammar
- · Words Their Way
- · Presentations
Third Grade
Reading/Literature
- » Reading to learn
- » Exposure to various genres
- » Literature analysis, understanding, critical thinking
- » Author methods
- » Making connections
- » Predictions and inferences
- » Writing/editing process
- » Creative writing
- » Poetry
- » Mysteries
- » Fairy tales
- » Expository writing
- » Paragraph structure
- » Biographies
- » Handwriting without Tears
- » Six Traits Writing
- » Sentance Structure
- » Practice speaking clearly, confidently, naturally, and respectfully
- » Oral reports
- » Social studies presentations
- » Class play
Language
- » Grammar
- · Capitalization
- · Ending punctuation
- · Apostrophes, commas, quotation marks
- » Spelling
- · Words Their Way
- · Spelling lists grouped by phonetics, syllable patterns, word parts
- · High Frequency Words
- » Vocabulary
- · Contextual clues to word meanings
- · Analogies
- · Synonyms & antonyms
- · Taken from all subject areas
Fourth Grade
Reading/Literature
- » Historical fiction
- » Fiction, non-fiction, plays, biographies, tall tales, poetry, newspapers, literary magazines
- » Literature discussions about character development, predicting outcome, finding personal connections
- » Skim & scan
- » Conflicts, moral & ethical
- » Book reviews
- » Reports
- » Poetry, letters
- » Writer's Workshop
- » Memoirs, recipes, writer's notebooks
- » Multiple paragraphs
- » Research & organization techniques
- » Writing independently
- » Six Traits Writing
Language
- » Grammar
- · Parts of speech
- · Quotations
- » Spelling
- · Words gathered from other subjects
- » Vocabulary
- · Vocabulary from reading, math, science, & social studies
- » Oral Reports
- » Poetry recitation
- » Reading aloud (novels)
- » Literature discussions
- » Class play
Fifth Grade
Reading/Literature
- » Reading comprehension
- » Class novels
- » Historical fiction
- » Science fiction, fantasy, mystery
- » Biography
- » Character analysis and development
- » Critical thinking, compare/contrast
- » Plot, conflict, point of view, setting, foreshadowing, irony
- » Descriptive & persuasive essays
- » Creative writing
- » The writing process: drafts, peer editing, revisions
- » Haiku, Tanka, limericks, etc.
- » Reader response journals
- » Personal reflections
- » Describe, explain, compare and contrast
Language
- » Grammar
- · Recognition of nouns, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, adjectives
- · Use of vivid verbs, adjectives, & adverbs to enhance writing
- » Spelling
- · Weekly spelling words gathered from mistakes in student's own writing, weekly quizzes
- » Vocabulary
- · Weekly words from novels and other in class reading
- » Daily literature discussions
- » Presentations
- » Skits & speeches
- » Class play
- » Debate: Who discovered America?
- » Yosemite Town Meeting
Sixth Grade
Reading/Literature
- » Novels
- » Short stories
- » Biographies
- » Poetry
- » Plot analysis, setting, conflict, character, narrative perspective, analysis of elements
- » Fables/Myths
- » Writing process: brainstorming, outlining, drafting, editing, revising, presenting
- » Expository essay: form, development of main idea, support
- » Creative writing: fiction narrative, descriptions, poetry, journal
- » Six Traits Writing
- » Effective vocabulary usage, sentence fluency
Language
- » Grammar
- · Parts of speech, tenses, punctuation, subject verb agreement
- · Editing
- » Spelling
- · Common errors, words related by pattern or rule
- » Vocabulary
- · From literature and other sources, words from roots
- » Confidence in speaking
- » Class/group discussions
- » Oral presentations
- » Class play
Seventh Grade
Reading/Literature
- » Novels
- » Short stories
- » Biographies
- » Short drama
- » Poetry
- » Analysis of fiction elements: theme, character development, symbolism, perspective
- » Writing process: organization, editing, style revision
- » Development of essay skills: thesis idea, support, transitions
- » Creative writing: description, narrative, dialog, poetry, use of senses, voices, richer vocabulary, and perspective
Language
- » Grammar
- · Direct/indirect objects, prepositional phrases, noun-verb agreement, noun functions, editing
- » Spelling
- · Student errors, patterns & rules
- » Vocabulary
- · Word origins & careful choices, contexts, literature word lists
- » Development of individual ideas in discussions
- » In-depth discussions
- » Oral presentations
Eighth Grade
Reading/Literature
- » Novels
- » Short stories
- » Biographies
- » Short drama
- » Poetry
- » Fiction elements: theme, characters, symbolism, perspective
- » Developing more complex writing: polishing, idea development, clarity
- » Essay skills: thesis idea, support, transitions
- » Creative writing: style, precise vocabulary, character development
Language
- » Grammar
- · Dependent/independent clauses, case, modifiers, parallelism, editing
- · Novels, short stories, biographies, short drama, poetry
- » Spelling
- · Student errors, patterns & rules
- » Vocabulary
- · Greek and Latin roots, precise and effective word choice
- · Contexts, literature word lists
- » Extended discussions on literature and issues
- » Oral reports
- » Speeches
- » Development of individual opinion and articulate, confident expression