Language Arts

Elementary 1

Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6

What Happens in Every Class

Vocabulary

Most weeks, students learn 12 high-usage words common in gifted education (usually referred to as Tier 2 or 3 words). In total, they learn 360 vocabulary words over the course of the year. Students reinforce their vocabulary knowledge through interactive games, in-class quizzes, and homework activities. Vocabulary words reappear in readings, discussions, and writing assignments.

Grammar

Our characters Bertie and Bennie guide students through their grammar each week. Bennie teaches students about an element of grammar, such as direct and indirect objects. They then apply that knowledge by identifying and correcting errors in an enlightening story told by Bertie, which he follows with a set of questions designed to spur their creative and critical thinking.

Reading & Writing

In our weekly reading and discussion time, we read a story together, and students respond to critical questions designed to help them interpret and analyze texts with more complexity and depth. Corresponding writing assignments allow students to improve their writing skills, while giving them experience in several different genres, genres of writing, including creative fiction, personal narratives, reflection papers, and persuasive essays.

Creativity & Critical Thinking

Every in-class reading is accompanied by a Socratic discussion led by PhD and expert instructors. Students form their own opinions, support them, and engage with the differing opinions of their classmates. Creativity is fostered both in classroom discussion and homework assignments that ask students to write original creative works, critical pieces, or personal narratives or reflections related to the week’s reading and discussion.

Curriculum Spotlight

Seeing and Being Seen

In Lesson 2, students read “Zoo” by Edward D. Hoch. In this story, crowds eagerly pay to see Professor Hugo’s Interplanetary Zoo, which comes to Earth once a year, each time bringing a different species of caged alien creature to wonder at – like the terrifying horse-spider beings of Kaan. However, at the end of the story, we learn that the Kaanians had paid for the privilege of travelling to see the bizarre creatures of Earth – and they were very glad that they were protected from us by the cage bars! This story helps students to think about our main theme for the year: perception and subjectivity. We often think about and judge others – other people, other living beings – as if our perspectives were simply objective, but we rarely stop to think that many of those others are perceiving us from their own very different perspectives…and we might not like what they see!