Language Arts

Speaking, listening and writing are the main components of the Language Arts program at HMJDS. Through a balanced literacy approach children gain reading fluency through:

  • phonics
  • vocabulary
  • reading comprehension skills
  • word study
  • writing process: building sentences, writing paragraphs, producing first drafts, writing mechanics, editing/revising and creating a final copy of which they can be proud.

Language Arts activities are integrated in many other parts of the curriculum as children write their strategies for solving math problems, keep science journals recording observations, and developing research skills. The curriculum is enhanced by creative writing, poetry, drama and technology.

Kindergarten: Our kindergartners create wonderful stories with temporary spelling and take great pride as emerging readers. They develop foundational skills through:

  • Phonemic awareness
  • Beginning reading and writing skills
  • Becoming authors

“My first year at the day school I was eight years old. My family had just immigrated to Minneapolis from Russia. My teacher was fair and just, kind and caring, and most of all, persistent in helping all her students achieve their potential.” – HMJDS Student

First Grade: First graders learn to find patterns in their words which lead them to more conventional spelling. Students read to themselves for enjoyment and begin to develop descriptive vocabulary. There is a focus on:

  • Building good reading habits
  • Tackling Tricky Words
  • Writer’s Workshop

Second Grade: Second graders strengthen reading comprehension skills. Writing conventions are taught and students expand their sentences. Students become more serious participants in:

  • Reader’s Workshop; inferring and predicting
  • Expanding Writer’s Workshop; writing conventions; personal narrative
  • Author study

Third Grade: Third graders appreciate the writer’s voice through literature read-alouds and book choices reflecting personal connection. Students are guided through the writing process by developing well-constructed paragraphs. They engage in:

  • New and complex literary genres
  • Writer’s Workshop: writer’s voice, organizing a paragraph, editing
  • Oral presentation skills; delivering a demonstration speech

Fourth Grade: Fourth graders analyze text and examine story development in works of fiction. They also learn to extract important information from non-fiction texts to be used in presenting research. These skills are achieved through:

  • Literature Circles: Expanding genres discussion about story elements (character, setting, plot details, conflict and resolution.)
  • Writer’s Workshop: news article, essay, personal narrative
  • Research skills: note taking, organization of information for Native American project