REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL
book2.gif (990 bytes)  LANGUAGE ARTS

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THREE YEAR-OLDS
Through the use of fun games and hands-on experiences, the children are given opportunities to develop the foundation skills for reading at their own pace. These skills include: ability to follow directions, matching, visual and auditory memory, sorting, sense of sequence, visual and auditory discrimination, and a desire to read. Picture books are read daily to the children, both at story time and to individuals at free play. Color days are significant in learning the basic eight colors.

FOUR-YEAR-OLD CLASS
Our goal is to introduce children to pre-reading skills including, but not limited to, left-right progression, listening skills, visual and auditory memory, verbalization, and vocabulary development. Name recognition is a goal for this class. The introduction of alphabet letters in various activities is a curriculum goal, however, mastery of letter recognition is not expected.

ENRICHMENT CLASS
Our goal is to introduce children to pre-reading skills including, but not limited to, left-right progression, listening skills, visual and auditory memory, verbalization and vocabulary development, rhythm, opposites, same/different, and organization and development of ideas to dictate creative stories. Name recognition is also a goal for this class. The letters of the alphabet, including recognition of upper care letters, sounds of a sequencing of the letters is introduced. Literature appreciation both quietly and individually and group story time are encouraged.

KINDERGARTEN
Kindergartners will be led through a phonetic based program designed to develop reading, writing and listening skills. Students will be introduced to reading concepts through music, poetry, rhymes, traditional and classic literature and active participation. Students will learn that letters make sounds and sounds are put together to create language. By the end of the year the student will be reading simple sentences and stories.

FIRST GRADE
The first grade reading curriculum emphasizes the use of phonics daily as the student increase their reading vocabulary. Students discuss orally each reading story either in small groups or as a class. Students will use context clues to help identify unfamiliar words. Sequencing of stories will be understood. By the end of the year the children will adequately be able to read and comprehend a short story.

SECOND GRADE
Reading comprehension is one of the primary goals for second grade reading . Students will make predictions and be able to correctly sequence the events of a story. Phonics is used to help students decode words and recognize spelling patterns of words. Students will also use context clues to decode unfamiliar words. Independent reading is encouraged to help students’ enjoyment of reading increase.

THIRD GRADE
The third grade reading curriculum provides exposure to quality literature through reading and listening. As they read, students will practice comprehension and word analysis skills. Daily experiences in independent reading, both in and out of school, will be provided. Students will share independent reading through monthly book reports. They will also develop the skill of reading for information in all subject areas.

FOURTH GRADE
In the fourth grade reading, our students will continue to develop reading skills such as word identification using context and structural clues in conjunction with phonetics, vocabulary enrichment, comprehension and prediction skills, as well as, reference and study skills. Our students will also study literary forms, techniques, and story elements. This learning will take place through the use of a textbook, silent reading, creative writing, book reports, and teacher read-aloud which will include many award winning novels for children.

FIFTH GRADE
In the fifth grade reading, our students will continue to develop reading skills such as word identification using context and structural clues in conjunction with phonetics, vocabulary enrichment, comprehension and prediction skills, as well as reference and study skills. Our students will also study literary forms, techniques, and story elements. This learning will take place through the use of a textbook, silent reading, creative writing, book reports, and teacher read-aloud which will include many award winning novels for children.

SIXTH GRADE

SEVENTH & EIGHTH GRADE
Students in grades 7 & 8 will draw heavily on previously learned reading skills as they read for content, but will learn new skills as well.  Developing strong comprehension and critical thinking skills will be at the core of every reading lesson.  Strong critical thinking skills will be an invaluable tool as students begin to step out into the world with less supervision.  Christian students must learn to discern information and its sources then critique it according to Scripture and use it appropriately. 

 

Students will be exposed to a wide range of genres including; short stories, drama, nonfiction, poetry, myth, legends, and folk tales.  In addition to using a text book, students will participate in several novel studies throughout the year.  Students will be assessed by their class work, assignments, and comprehension tests.  Several units will include projects as well.   There will be times when students will be required to read a piece of literature on their own time, and take a quiz in the following class period.  Work at home will increase as the year progresses.

 

Each reading from the text includes an extensive author biography, a historical background for understanding, and reading strategies assisting students to read more critically and with a higher level of comprehension.  Students will be expected to complete comprehension questions and critical thinking assignments at the end of each piece of literature along with workbook exercises. Answers will be written in complete sentences, restating the questions when applicable. 

 

At times students will complete extensive research on various topics using the internet at school, and resource books from your local library.  When completing a research assignment, students will use at least three different sources unless otherwise noted.

 

Classroom goals and objectives:



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