Language Arts

Elementary: Grades K-5

Students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade use Houghton Mifflin Reading (2005) as their instructional text.  The foundational reading strategies that are taught in Houghton Mifflin align with the Washington State Grade Level Expectations and include:

• phonics/decoding
• predict/infer
• monitor/clarify
• question
• summarize
• evaluate

Specific reading skills are also taught in each grade level. They include such skills as:
 
• compare and contrast
• noting details
• sequencing events
• making generalizations
• drawing conclusions
• cause and effect
• story elements
• making predictions
• main idea and details
• fact and opinion
• making judgments
• author’s view point

These skills and strategies taught in Houghton Mifflin Reading represent a comprehensive plan of instruction.  Leveled Readers are used to differentiate instruction to meet the individual needs of each student. Leveled theme paperback books are also available for students in grades four and five.

Grade Level: Kindergarten

• Theme One: Look at Us - We’re getting to know ourselves and each other.
• Theme Two: Colors All Around - We see beautiful colors everywhere.
• Theme Three: We’re a Family – Families work, play, and celebrate together.
• Theme Four: Friends together- Friends have lots of fun together.
• Theme Five: Let’s Count – Numbers are important to us in many ways.
• Theme Six: Sunshine and Raindrops – Whatever the weather, it affects us every day.
• Theme Seven: Wheels go Round- Wheels help us work and play, sometimes in unexpected ways.
• Theme Eight: Down on the Farm - The Farm is a busy place for animals and people, too.
• Theme Nine: Spring is Here – Spring is a wonderful season of new growth.
• Theme Ten: A World of Animals – Interesting animals are everywhere.

Grade Level: 1

• Theme One: All Together Now – Friends do all kinds of things together.
• Theme Two: Surprise- Things don’t always turn out the way you expect.
• Theme Three: Let’s Look Around - Interesting things happen in the world around us.
• Theme Four: Family and Friends – Family and friends share good times.
• Theme Five: Home Sweet Home – Everyone has a different kind of home.
• Theme Six: Animal Adventures - Real and imaginary animals have all kinds of adventures.
• Theme Seven: We Can Work it Out – Characters find unique ways to solve problems.
• Theme Eight: Our Earth – We can all care for and enjoy earth’s resources.
• Theme Nine: Special Friends- Some friendships are more special than others.
• Theme Ten: We Can Do It – There’s always a way to get something done.

Grade Level: 2

• Theme One:  Silly Stories – Stories with silly characters and funny situations make us laugh.
• Theme Two: Nature Walk- Nature can be observed and enjoyed, wherever you are.
• Theme Three: Around Town – Neighborhood and Community
• Theme Four: Amazing Animals – These animals do everything from the incredible to the hilarious.
• Theme Five: Family Time – People in a family learn from and help one another.
• Theme Six: Talent Show – Talented people work hard at what they love to do.

Grade Level: 3

• Theme One: Off to Adventure - Adventures come in all sizes and shapes.
• Theme Two: Celebrating Traditions – The United States has a rich cultural heritage.
• Theme Three: Incredible Stories – Some stories are too wild to be believed.
• Theme Four: Animal Habitats – Animals coexist with people in a variety of habitats.
• Theme Five: Voyagers – No matter where they travel, voyagers have a lot in common.
• Theme Six: Smart Solutions – Sometimes it helps to look at a problem in a new way.

Grade Level: 4

• Theme One: Journeys – Travelers learn about the world and themselves.
• Theme Two:  American Stories – Learn about the diversity, achievement, and spirit of the United States.
• Theme Three: That’s Amazing – Fantastic Tales that range from the mysterious to the hilarious.
• Theme Four: Problem Solvers – Young people showing initiative, courage, and cooperation.
• Theme Five: Heroes – Making a difference with courage, dignity, and perseverance.
• Theme Six: Nature – Friend and Foe – People reacting to nature’s bounty and brutality.

Grade Level: 5

• Theme One: Nature’s Fury – Nature is powerful and people must cope with its challenges.
• Theme Two: Give it all You’ve Got – Giving your best requires determination and risk.
• Theme Three: Voices of the Revolution – The Spirit of the American Revolution lives on.
• Theme Four: Person to Person – Relationships bring both problems and rewards.
• Theme Five: One Land Many Trails – The trails to and across the United States have seen many travelers.
• Theme Six: Animal Encounters: People and wild animals interact in a variety of close encounters.

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Middle School: Grades 6-8

Reading comprehension and writing skills are the main emphasis at grade levels 6-8. All strategies are based on the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) and Grade Level Expectations (GLEs). Reading selections include short stories, poetry, nonfiction pieces, and novels. Students learn and employ reading strategies and vocabulary building activities that help enhance their comprehension and writing strategies to help organize multi-paragraph essays.

Grade Level: 6

The primary instructional resource used at this level is the Literacy SourceBook, published by Scholastic. Reading selections from novel studies and the reading text offer students a variety of genres to study, keeping students challenged and engaged in their learning.  The text offers a variety of vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking activities that are enhanced by teachers.  Writing activities help teach narrative, expository, and persuasive styles.  Formal and informal assessments are used to monitor student progress.

Novel studies may include the following books:  
  A Wrinkle in Time
  Bridge to Terebithia
  Island of the Blue Dolphins
  Where the Red Fern Grows
  The Witch of Blackbird Pond
  The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
  My Side of the Mountain
  Tuck Everlasting

Grade Level: 7

The primary text used at the 7th grade level is "Literature:  Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes - Bronze Level", published by Prentice Hall. Reading selections from novel studies and the reading text offer students a variety of genres to study.  This keeps students challenged and engaged in their learning.  The text offers a variety of vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking activities that are enhanced by teachers.  Writing activities help teach narrative, expository, and persuasive styles.  Formal and informal assessments are used to monitor student progress.

Novel studies may include the following books: 
  Ella Enchanted
  Catherine Called Birdy
  Maniac Magee
  Summer of the Monkeys
  Tangerine
  The House on Mango Street
  Treasure Island
  Walk Two Moons
  The Westing Game

Grade Level: 8

The primary text used at the 8th grade level is “Literature:  Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes - Silver Level”, published by Prentice Hall. Reading selections from novel studies and the reading text offer students a variety of genres to examine.  This keeps students challenged and engaged in their learning.  The text offers a variety of vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking activities that are enhanced by teachers.  Writing activities help teach narrative, expository, and persuasive styles.  Formal and informal assessments are used to monitor student progress.

Novel studies may include the following books: 
  April Morning
  Sarah Bishop
  Johnny Tremain
  My Brother Sam is Dead
  The Outsiders
  Call of the Wild

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High School: Grades 9-12

Grade Level: 9

Reading comprehension and writing precision are top concerns at the grade level. Reading selections include short stories, poetry, non-fiction pieces, at least one play, and novels.  Students employ reading strategies and vocabulary building exercises that will enhance their comprehension. Grammar and writing exercises are designed to build confidence in writing well constructed multi-paragraph essays.

The primary text used at the 9th grade level is “Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Theme -- Gold Level”, published by Prentice Hall. This text has an excellent selection of stories, plays, and poems that continuously challenge and excite young readers.  The text provides a variety of activities that enable students to practice a myriad of reading strategies. Reading assessments prepare students for careful reading and critical thinking.

The themes and ideas from the selections also give students abundant subjects about which to express their thoughts on paper. The text provides guided instruction for writing summaries as well as expository, analytical, and persuasive essays. Reading and writing prompts in this text are written using the same format and terms as found on the state assessment.

Major literary works studied include:
  Homer's Odyssey
  Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
  William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
  Lois Lowry's The Giver

Grade Level: 10

Narrative Summary of content emphasis at this grade level: Reading comprehension and writing precision are top concerns at the 9th grade level. Reading selections include short stories, poetry, non-fiction pieces, at least one play, and novels.  Students employ reading strategies and vocabulary building exercises that will enhance their comprehension. Grammar and writing exercises are designed to build confidence in writing well constructed multi-paragraph essays. Time spent after the state assessment is used to develop speaking skills and promote confidence in public speaking.

The primary text used at the 10th grade level is “Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes -- Platinum Level” published by Prentice Hall. This text has an excellent selection of stories, plays, and poems that continuously challenge and excite young readers.  The text provides a variety of activities that enable students t o practice a myriad of reading strategies. Reading assessments prepare students for careful reading and critical thinking. The themes and ideas from the selections also give students abundant subjects about which to express their thoughts on paper. The text provides guided instruction for writing essays in the following forms: expository, personal narrative, critical evaluation, comparison - contrast, and literary analysis.

Reading and writing prompts in this text reflect the same format and terminology as found on the state assessment.

A variety of plays and novels are available to enhance reading comprehension and critical thinking strategies.  They may include one or more of the following:
  Erich Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front
  George Orwell's Animal Farm
  Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac
  Elie Wiesel's Night
  Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre
  Willima Golding's Lord of the Flies
  John Knowles' A Separate Peace
  William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
  Sophocles' Antigone
  Reginald Rose's Twelve Angry Men

Grade Level: 11 - American Literature

This course is designed to develop a broad understanding of American culture while improving reading comprehension, enhancing communications skills through speaking and writing exercises, and developing research skills.

The primary text used at the 11th grade level is “Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: The American Experience”, published by Prentice Hall. This text has an excellent selection of stories, plays, and poems that continuously challenge and excite young readers.  The text provides a variety of activities that enable students to practice a myriad of reading strategies. Reading assessments prepare students for careful reading and critical thinking.

The reading content focuses on short stories, poetry, plays, and non-fiction pieces which reflect American social and political issues. The themes and ideas from the selections give students abundant subjects about which to express their thoughts on paper. The text provides guided instruction for writing a research paper as well as essays in the following forms: expository, personal narrative, critical evaluation, comparison - contrast, and literary analysis.

Literary content is augmented with a variety of great American literature to continue the development of reading comprehension strategies and critical thinking.  Plays and novels may include (but not be limited to) the following list:
  Mark Twain's the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
  Arthur Miller's The Crucible
  John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and / or The Grapes of Wrath
  Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea and/ or Farewell to Arms
  Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage
  Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
  Hal Borland's When the Legends Die
  Willa Cather's My Antonia

Grade Level: 12 - Reading and Writing for College

This course prepares students for the level of reading, writing, and communicating necessary for success in college courses. Literary studies will be based on world literature pieces in a variety of genres.  A variety of writing experiences will focus on literary analysis, essays, and an in-depth research paper.  Practical applications will include note-taking, outlining, college applications, SAT verbal preparation, college grammar and speaking/listening skills and, essay test writing.  Critical thinking, synthesis, analysis, and evaluation will be emphasized.

The primary text used is “Literature and Language: English and World Literature”, published by McDougal and Littell. This text includes a wide variety of world literature that includes short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and plays.  Reading selections are followed by a wide-range of writing activities designed to prepare students for college course work. Language workshops provide skill development in grammar, punctuation, writing well-constructed sentences. The text also includes test preparation for standardized tests such as the SAT.
 
Comments/parent or student resources/information to make available: A wide range of plays and novels are available to increase students' grasp of the Western European traditions in literature.  They may include, but are not limited to, the following titles:
  Beowulf
  George Orwell's 1984
  Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
  William Shakespeare's Macbeth and other plays
  J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye
  Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
  Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness
  Thomas Hardy's Tess of the Urbervilles
  Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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