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Language Arts CurriculumLanguage Arts Resources

The goal of all language arts is clear communication.

It's also one of two main required subject areas (along with math) in state standardized testing. A knowledge of language arts is required to drive a car, order from a menu, be understood, read subtitles on foreign films, pray, and most other useful activity known to humankind. Language is one of the primary ingredients for successful human culture and civilization.

Yet we at Exodus Books talk to parents every day who are unclear exactly what constitutes language arts, how to teach them, if composition is as important as reading, etc. They might think terms like English, composition and reading are interchangeable. Or they teach a single element of language arts (like vocabulary) and are confused when their kids score poorly on a grammar test. Or....or....or....

But what ARE the "Language Arts"?

The term Language Arts refers to the tools needed to read, write, speak, and understand a given language. Yes, it's a broad definition. But it also means the collective language arts are all interrelated, and that should actually be a cause for relief rather than fear.

Because of this interrelatedness, splitting the various topics into stand-alone subjects is nearly impossible. At the same time, all kids have strengths and weaknesses, so you can apply focus and de-emphasis where needed. Topics that fall under the LA umbrella include (but aren't limited to) phonics, penmanship/handwriting, reading comprehension, listening skills (dictation), spelling and vocabulary, grammar, composition, research skills, speech, rhetoric, and more.

Does that mean you have to find a single program that covers all this territory? By no means. There aren't many "total language arts" programs available, and fewer still that live up to that promise. So does that mean you have to find curricula for each topic, and then somehow manage to correlate everything into a unified whole for your kiddos? Well....yeah, kinda.

A goal a day keeps the headaches away (and CSD, and bad grades, etc.)

Yes, this sounds like a lot. Be assured: it doesn't just sound like a lot, it is a lot. That's why you set and keep goals. You don't have to teach ten language arts topics a day. Most of the skills represent means, not ends. The end of language arts study is the acquisition of good communication skills; the means to that acquisition include phonics, spelling, composition, and so on.

Phonics is a means to deciphering words; grammar provides the rules for clear writing; a large vocabulary increases a student's ability to understand and relay information effectively. Don't forget the big picture: language arts translates directly into communication skills. If your student is steadily acquiring the tools needed to communicate well, you're on the right track. If not, set some goals.

Well, set some goals even if you're on the right track. Does your child understand the rules of grammar but still can't spell? Devote extra time to spelling and vocabulary. Are there gaps in her knowledge of sentence-construction? Focus on composition for awhile. Does he excel at each of the language arts? Press him further and have him study rhetoric.

Don't tie yourself to one program; keep your kids' abilities and learning styles in mind, and find coursework that caters specifically to their needs as well as your own. Remember that there is a progression within the language arts spectrum, that phonics precedes reading, spelling precedes vocabulary building, grammar and composition precedes writing the next Pulitzer Prize-winner.

Keep the short- and long-term goals in mind at every stage so you don't get bogged down in unnecessary details or try to get all the way to home plate when you haven't even rounded second. Why teach phonics? So kids can learn to read. Why teach kids how to spell? So they can be understood through writing. All language arts instruction boils down to the desire to form good communicators.

Our advice, for what it's worth...

Finding what works for your children will take effort. There are several learning styles, and gajillions of teaching philosophies. Not all of them work; not all programs stay consistent in their approach; not every child responds negatively to straight-up instruction vs. colorful pictures and hands-on activities. Our product reviews are intended to help you navigate the many options, but ultimately the decisions are yours to make.

Just below you'll see the main topics included under the "Language Arts" umbrella. We've tried to group them in difficulty order (phonics first, rhetoric last) to help you understand where your student currently stands. And though we've said it a thousand times already, never ever forget that teaching spelling isn't about teaching spelling—it's about equipping students to be the kinds of people who can express, understand and exchange ideas (from "Clear the table!" to "I doubt, therefore I am.") with a high degree of grace and proficiency.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

 

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123 Items found Print
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Active Filters: 9th grade (Ages 14-15), In-Stock Books & Materials
Advanced Academic Writing I - Set
Writing Strand Level 5
by Michael Clay Thompson
3rd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$57.00 (1 in stock)
Advanced Academic Writing II - Set
Writing Strand Level 6
by Michael Clay Thompson
3rd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$57.00 (1 in stock)
Alphabet Makers
by Hyatt Moore
from Wycliffe Bible Translators
for 8th-Adult
in History of Books & Language (Location: HISV-BOOK)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
American Heritage Dictionary
by Houghton Mifflin Company
5th edition from Dell Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$9.34
American Heritage Student Thesaurus
by Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries
Reprint from Houghton Mifflin
for 7th-12th grade
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$16.14
Animal Farm
Signet Classics
by George Orwell
from Signet Classics
Utopian/Dystopian Literature for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$10.20
Anne of Green Gables
Anne #1
by L. M. Montgomery
from Bantam Books
Orphan Stories for 5th-9th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$6.79
Anne of Green Gables
Anne #1
by L. M. Montgomery
from Tundra Books (NY)
Orphan Stories for 5th-9th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$12.74
Anne of Green Gables
Anne #1
by L. M. Montgomery
from Tundra Books (NY)
Orphan Stories for 5th-9th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.49
Around the World in Eighty Days
by Jules Verne, George M. Towle (Translator)
from Bantam Books
for 7th-Adult
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$5.94
Art of Fiction
by John Gardner
from Vintage Classics
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$12.71 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Blended Structure and Style in Composition
by James B. Webster
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 2nd-12th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$35.00
Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
by Jane Straus with Lester Kaufman & Tom Stern
11th edition from Jossey-Bass
for 6th-Adult
$13.56 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus
12th edition from Jossey-Bass
for 6th-Adult
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$20.00
Bronze Bow
by Elizabeth George Speare
from Houghton Mifflin
Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade
1962 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Call of the Wild
Puffin Classics
by Jack London
2008th edition from Puffin Books
Action/Adventure for 7th-10th grade
in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF)
$9.34 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
by Jean Lee Latham
from Houghton Mifflin
Biography for 5th-9th grade
1956 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$13.59 $7.20 (1 in stock)
Caught'ya!
by Jane Bell Kiester
3rd edition from Maupin House Publishing
for 7th-12th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Language Arts - English 1 901-905 Teacher Materials
Sunrise from Christian Light Education
for 9th grade
in Christian Light Language Arts (Location: GRA-CLE)
$2.55 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Language Arts - English 1 Answer Key LightUnit 901-905
Sunrise from Christian Light Education
for 9th grade
in Christian Light Language Arts (Location: GRA-CLE)
$3.40 (1 in stock)
Complete Rhyming Dictionary
from Dell Publishing
for 1st-Adult
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$8.99
Concise Roget's International Thesaurus
by Barbara Ann Kipfer
7th edition from HarperTrophy
for 7th-12th grade
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$6.79
Dictionary of Latin and Greek Origins
by Bob Moore and Maxine Moore
from Barnes & Noble
for 8th-Adult
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
by Lynne Truss
from Gotham Books
Grammar Reference for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$9.35 $5.00 (2 in stock)
Elements of Style
by William Strunk & E. B. White
4th edition from Allyn and Bacon
Writing Handbook for 9th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$8.49
Elements of Style (Illustrated)
by E.B. White, William Strunk Jr.
from Penguin Books
for 7th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$15.30
Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters
by Mark Dunn
Reprint from Anchor Books
for 8th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$12.71
English 9 - Parent Guide/Student Daily Lessons (old)
1st edition from A Beka Books
for 9th grade
$3.40 (1 in stock)
Enough About Grammar
by Joe Floren
from Twain Productions
for 4th-10th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Essential Literary Terms
1st edition from W. W. Norton and Co.
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Excellence in Literature - Handbook for Writers
by Ian Johnston and Janice Campbell
1st edition from Everyday Education
for 9th-12th grade
in IEW Literature & Poetry (Location: LITCUR-IEW)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Fog Trilogy and Parent Manual - Set
Literature Strand Level 6
by Michael Clay Thompson
from Royal Fireworks Press
for 5th-12th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
Giggly Guide to Grammar
by Cathy Campbell
for 7th-12th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Giver
The Giver Quartet #1
by Lois Lowry
from HMH Books for Young Readers
for 7th-10th grade
1994 Newbery Medal winner
in Science Fiction (Location: FIC-SCI)
$10.19 $4.80 (3 in stock)
Grammar and Composition III - Test/Quiz Key (old)
5th edition from A Beka Books
for 9th grade
$2.55 (3 in stock)
Hiding Place
by Corrie Ten Boom
from Bantam Books
Biography for 6th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$7.64
Hobbit
by J. R. R. Tolkien
2nd edition from Ballantine Books
Fantasy for 5th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.35
How to Develop a Brilliant Memory Week by Week
by Dominic O'Brien
from Duncan Baird
for 9th-Adult
in Research & Study Skills (Location: REF-STUDY)
$11.01
How To Study
by Edward Shewan
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Research & Study Skills (Location: REF-STUDY)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
How to Write a Great Research Paper
by Leland Graham & Darriel Ledbetter
from Incentive Publications, Inc.
for 6th-9th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
How to Write Irresistible Query Letters
by Lisa Collier Cool
from Writer's Digest
for 9th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$11.01
Jensen's Format Writing
by Frode Jensen
2nd edition from Master Books
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$22.39
Jensen's Format Writing - DVD Supplement
by Frode Jensen
3rd edition from Master Books
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$20.00 $15.00 (2 in stock)
Jensen's Grammar
by Frode Jensen
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$28.79
Jensen's Grammar - DVD Supplement
by Frode Jensen
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$26.40 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Jensen's Punctuation
by Frode Jensen
from Wordsmiths
for 6th-9th grade
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Jensen's Punctuation
by Frode Jensen
2nd edition from Master Books
for 6th-9th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$22.39
Jensen's Vocabulary
by Frode Jensen
from Master Books
for 7th-10th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$28.79 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Johnny Tremain
by Esther Forbes
from Yearling
Historical Fiction/Adventure for 3rd-10th grade
1944 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$4.50 (2 in stock)
Julie of the Wolves
"Julie" Trilogy Book 1
by Jean Craighead George
from HarperCollins
Adventure for 7th-10th grade
1973 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$6.79
King Alfred's English
by Laurie J. White
from Shorter Word Press
for 7th-12th grade
in History of Books & Language (Location: HISV-BOOK)
$13.26
Learning Language Arts Through Literature - American Literature (old)
by Debbie Strayer
3rd edition from Common Sense Press
for 9th-12th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
$28.90
Learning Language Arts Through Literature - British Literature (old)
by Debbie Strayer & Tim Nichols
3rd edition from Common Sense Press
for 9th-12th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
$28.90 $15.00 (1 in stock)
Learning Language Arts Through Literature - World Literature Anthology
by Debbie Strayer & Tim Nichols
3rd edition from Common Sense Press
for 9th-12th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Life of Fred Language Arts Series: Australia
by Stanley F. Schmidt, Ph.D.
from Polka Dot Publishing
for 6th-12th grade
in Life of Fred Language Arts Series (Location: GRA-FRED)
$20.40
Life of Fred Language Arts Series: Begin Teaching
by Stanley F. Schmidt, Ph.D.
from Polka Dot Publishing
for 6th-12th grade
in Life of Fred Language Arts Series (Location: GRA-FRED)
$20.40
Life of Fred Language Arts Series: Classes
by Stanley F. Schmidt, Ph.D.
from Polka Dot Publishing
for 6th-12th grade
in Life of Fred Language Arts Series (Location: GRA-FRED)
$20.40
Life of Fred Language Arts Series: Dreams
by Stanley F. Schmidt, Ph.D.
from Polka Dot Publishing
for 6th-12th grade
in Life of Fred Language Arts Series (Location: GRA-FRED)
$20.40
Lifepac: Language Arts 9 - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$125.95 $68.50 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Language Arts 9 - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$26.75 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Chronicles of Narnia Book 2
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.34
Magic Lens II - Set
Grammar Strand Level 6
by Michael Clay Thompson
6th edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$58.00 (1 in stock)
McCall-Crabbs Books A-E - Teacher's Guide & Answer Key
by William A. McCall & Lelah Mae Crabbs
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-9th grade
in McCall-Crabbs Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MC)
$6.00
Memory Mechanics
by Gary DeMar
from American Vision Press
for 9th grade-adult
in Research & Study Skills (Location: REF-STUDY)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Merriam-Webster Collegiate Thesaurus
2nd Ed from Merriam-Webster
for 9th-Adult
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$19.51
Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms
from Merriam-Webster
for 9th-Adult
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$5.94
Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
New from Merriam-Webster
for 9th-Adult
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$7.23
Merriam-Webster Thesaurus OSI
from Merriam-Webster
for 9th-Adult
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$5.53
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
11th edition from Merriam-Webster
for 9th-Adult
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$21.21
Merriam-Webster's Rhyming Dictionary
by Merriam-Webster
2nd edition from Merriam-Webster
for 9th-Adult
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$15.26
MLA Handbook - Ninth Edition
9th edition from Modern Language Asociation of America
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
More Nitty-Gritty Grammar
by Edith H. Fine and Judith P. Josephson
from Ten Speed Press
for 6th-Adult
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Nitty-Gritty Grammar
by Edith H. Fine and Judith P. Josephson
from Ten Speed Press
for 6th-Adult
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$5.50 (1 in stock)
Official Scrabble Players Dictionary
from Merriam-Webster
for 6th-9th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need
by Susan Thurman
2nd edition from Adams Media Corp.
for 8th-Adult
in Miscellaneous Grammar Curriculum (Location: GRA-MISC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Our Mother Tongue
by Nancy Wilson
2nd edition from Canon Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Miscellaneous Grammar Curriculum (Location: GRA-MISC)
$20.39 $15.00 (1 in stock)
Our Mother Tongue: A Guide to English Grammar (old)
by Nancy Wilson
from Canon Press
for 7th-10th grade
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
3rd edition from Oxford University
for 9th-Adult
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Poetry and Humanity - 2nd Edition Set
Poetics Strand Level 5
by Michael Clay Thompson
2nd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$54.00 (1 in stock)
Rifles for Watie
by Harold Keith
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade
1958 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$13.59
Rod & Staff English Handbook (old)
by Esther Neuenschwander
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
$3.40 (2 in stock)
Roget's International Thesaurus
by Barbara Ann Kipfer
7th edition from Collins
for 7th-Adult
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$22.95
Roget's International Thesaurus
by Robert L. Chapman (revised by)
4th Edition from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.
for 6th-Adult
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms
by Marvin Terban
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-9th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$5.20 (1 in stock)
Screwtape Letters
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegory/Religion for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$15.29
Search Trilogy and Parent Manual - Set
Literature Strand Level 3
by Michael Clay Thompson
2nd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 5th-12th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
Shadow Trilogy and Parent Manual - Set
Literature Strand Level 4
by Michael Clay Thompson
from Royal Fireworks Press
for 5th-12th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
Someday You'll Write
by Elizabeth Yates
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
Non-fiction for 5th-9th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$5.00 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Spell to Write and Read
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for Kindergarten-12th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
Spell to Write and Read (really old)
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for Kindergarten-12th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Spell to Write and Read - A Companion CD Set for Review and Mastery
by Wanda Sanseri & Jennifer Schroeder (reader)
from Your Name Ministries
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$19.00 (1 in stock)
Study Strategies Made Easy
by Leslie Davis, Sandi Sirotowitz, with Harvey C. Parker
from Specialty Press
for 6th-12th grade
in Research & Study Skills (Location: REF-STUDY)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
New edition from Yearling
for 5th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.64
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
New edition from Signet Classics
for 5th-9th grade
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$5.09
Synonym Finder
by Jerome Irving Rodale
from Rodale Press
for 7th-Adult
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$25.56
They Say / I Say
4th Edition from W. W. Norton and Co.
for 9th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
They Say / I Say (old)
by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein
3rd edition from W. W. Norton and Co.
for 9th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Through the Wall
by Alida Sims Malkus
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 8th-Adult
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$5.10 (1 in stock)
Time Trilogy and Parent Manual - Set
Literature Strand Level 4
by Michael Clay Thompson
from Royal Fireworks Press
for 5th-12th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
from Harper Perennial
Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
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