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Language Arts Courses
Kindergarten Language Arts
Language Arts Reading K
TEXTBOOK
Houghton Mifflin Reading Series, 2005.
DESCRIPTION
Kindergarten students are involved in reading related activities and reading
instruction for 90 minutes of the day. The curriculum is based on the five
components of reading which include; phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
fluency, and comprehension. The utilization of literacy centers, guided reading
groups, individualized and group instruction help differentiate and meet the
needs of each student. The reading series, Houghton Mifflin is divided into 10
reading themes throughout the school year.
Kindergarten students practice and develop writing skills through journaling,
letter writing, responding to literature, and development of word choice in the
six trait writing process.
Kindergarten students spend time daily on the practice of handwriting skills
using the Zaner-Bloser method.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
(make link to state language arts standards)
MULTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Multicultural themes and relationships are emphasized in the Houghton Mifflin
reading series, and are also integrated throughout the entire Norris Elementary
curriculum including the areas of literature, art, math, and social studies.
A few words in Spanish are introduced and reinforced. Ties are made to TV shows
such as Dora and Diego. Literature is read that contains Spanish words.
First Grade Language Arts
TEXTBOOK
Houghton Mifflin Reading Series, 2005.
Children’s Literature Books (fiction and nonfiction)
DESCRIPTION
In the first grade students spend approximately 140 minutes each day on reading
instruction. This time includes differentiated skills groups and writing and
spelling instruction. The first grade program builds upon skills taught in
Kindergarten. First Grade also teaches common word families/patterns and
introduces specific reading strategies, phonics, phonemic awareness, word
recognition, comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, grammar, listening, speaking
and writing skills. The processes of reading and writing are integrated through
reading/writing instruction.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Make a link to the first grade standards
WRITING ACTIVITIES
1.Students will practice handwriting skills using Zaner-Bloser Handwriting
method.
2.Students will write teacher directed dictated sentences.
3.Students will edit sentences.
4.Students will express themselves through writing on a regular basis.
5.Students will write and use weekly spelling words on weekly assessments and in
personal writing.
MULTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Multicultural themes and relationships are emphasized and integrated throughout
the entire Norris Elementary curriculum including literature, art, math, and
social skills.
All first grade students participate in a weekly Spanish class. The class is
received through a long-distance learning cart through the Educational Service
Unit. The instructors for the class are native Spanish speakers. The topics
included are greetings, colors, food, shapes, sizes, body parts and numbers. The
class also teaches about traditional Spanish celebrations and holidays.
Second Grade Language Arts
Language Arts and Reading-Grade 2
TEXTBOOK
Houghton Mifflin Reading Series, 2005.
Student Workbook, Houghton Mifflin Reading Series, 2005.
Children’s Literature Books (fiction and nonfiction)
DESCRIPTION
Students receive approximately 90 minutes each day of reading instruction.
Additionally, other language arts lessons such as writing, phonemic awareness,
computer instruction and practice increase this time. Second grade students
practice and develop the five components of reading which include: phonics,
phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Skills groups are
organized to teach reading themes for the school year. Students are assessed
using the series theme tests and are reported each quarter.
Students practice reading at their instructional level in a variety of forms
including small groups with the teacher, peer reading, independent reading,
choral reading or readers’ theater, and one on one with a teacher or Para
educator. Reading materials used include the student anthology, phonics library,
leveled readers, and literature sets to accompany the six Houghton Mifflin
reading themes. Students are provided with additional daily take home books at
their own reading level for further practice at home. Programs such as Essential
Skills, Sight Words 1 and 2, Success Maker, Sound Partners and Phonics for
Reading may be used as reading interventions.
Students practice and develop writing skills through personal narratives,
response to literature, journaling, letter writing, and the five steps of the
writing process (prewriting, rough draft, revising, editing, and final draft).
Spelling skills are taught in conjunction with the phonics skills and students
are given weekly, leveled spelling tests. The various genres of literature are
introduced and are also incorporated into the science and social studies areas.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
(Make a link to the second grade standards)
MULTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Multicultural themes and relationships are emphasized in the Houghton Mifflin
reading series, and are also integrated throughout the entire Norris Elementary
curriculum including the areas of literature, art, math, and social studies.
Second grade students have one lesson each week from Level 2 of Inter-Connect
Spanish. (from ESU #5) Spanish vocabulary from Level 1 is reviewed and
reinforced through interactive lessons and a video series called “Salsa”. New
vocabulary is introduced during the second part of the year. Lessons are
presented during their World Languages specials time. Salsa is presented during
homeroom time once a week with homeroom teacher present.
Third Grade Language Arts
Language Arts Reading Third Grade
TEXTBOOK
Houghton Mifflin Reading Series, 2005.
DESCRIPTION
Third grade students practice and develop the five components of reading which
include: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
Skills groups are organized to teach each of the five reading components. The
reading series, Houghton Mifflin, is divided into six themes for the school
year. Student growth is measured quarterly using teacher developed standards
based assessments.
Students practice reading at their instructional level in small groups with the
teacher, peer reading, independent reading, choral reading, reader’s theater,
and one on one with a teacher. Students listen to reading every day. Reading
materials used include the student anthology, leveled readers, and literature
sets that accompany the reading series.
Students practice and develop writing skills through personal narrative writing,
letter writing, journaling, and lessons on the writing process. In third grade,
students focus on ideas, word choice and organization. Spelling skills are
taught phonetically and as vocabulary building and are given weekly spelling
tests.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
(make link to state language arts standards.)
MULTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Multicultural themes and relationships are emphasized in the Houghton Mifflin
reading series, and are also integrated throughout the entire Norris Elementary
curriculum including the areas of literature, art, math, and social studies.
Third graders are meeting with a distance learning teacher from ESU 5 to learn
Spanish. Students play games, hear stories and learn about cultural
celebrations.
Third grade students have one lesson each week from
Inter-Connect Spanish. (from ESU #5) Spanish vocabulary is introduced through
interactive lessons and a video series called “Salsa”. Homeroom teachers monitor
the lessons with their students. Salsa is presented during World Language
specials time.
Fourth Grade Language Arts
TEXTBOOK
Houghton Mifflin Reading Series, 2005.
DESCRIPTION
Fourth grade students spend approximately 90 minutes each day on reading
instruction and practice. We use the Houghton Mifflin reading series, which
integrates all areas of Language Arts. This program delivers effective
instruction in the five key areas of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics,
fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These components are assessed in fourth
grade according to the Nebraska State Standards for reading. This series is
built around the guided-reading model, which provides level appropriate books
with each story for all students. This allows teachers to work with small groups
at their various levels of performance while providing support for individual
specific needs.
During our 30 minute skills block, lessons are taught in spelling, grammar, and
editing which are built around the literature-based story that is offered every
week. Differentiated spelling lists are given according to individual
performance on the particular spelling pattern. Some other areas of focus during
skill group time include fluency practice and phonics instruction depending upon
individual student levels.
In fourth grade we focus primarily on the personal narrative genre of writing.
Our instruction is based on the six trait writing model and the steps of the
writing process. Writing is evaluated according to the fourth grade state
standard rubric which evaluates stories according to the six traits.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Add link to NDE website standards.
MULTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Multicultural themes and relationships are emphasized in the Houghton Mifflin
reading series, and are also integrated throughout the entire Norris Elementary
curriculum including the areas of literature, art, math, and social studies.
Fourth grade students have one lesson each week from Level 1 of Inter-Connect
Spanish. (from ESU #5) Spanish vocabulary is introduced through interactive
lessons and a video series called “Salsa”. Lessons are presented during their
World Languages specials time. Salsa is presented during homeroom time once a
week with homeroom teacher present.
