My Account Wish List Shopping Cart Log In
Store Location

English / Language Arts

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.

 

Did you find this review helpful?
Parent Categories
English / Language Arts
Subcategories
91 Items found Print
Filter
Active Filters: 3rd grade (Ages 8-9), Used Books & Materials
70 Basic Phonograms - CD
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Alice, Peter and Mole Set with Parent Manual
by Michael Clay Thompson
from Royal Fireworks Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
Alpha List
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$33.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
American Heritage First Dictionary
Updated from Houghton Mifflin
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Arne of Norway
Level 5
by Alta Halverson Seymour, illustrated by Frank Nicholas
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-6th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$4.25 (1 in stock)
Badger Hills Farm #1
Level 3B
by Jenny Phillips, illustrated by Kessler Garrity
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$4.25 (2 in stock)
Building Language - 2nd EditionTeacher Manual and Student Book
MCT Language Arts Level 1
by Michael Clay Thompson
2nd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$31.50 (1 in stock)
Charlotte's Web
by E. B. White
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-6th grade
1953 Newbery Honor Book
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$4.80 (2 in stock)
Christian Light Language Arts - LightUnit 301-310 Quzzes & Tests Answer Key
Sunrise 2 from Christian Light Education
for 3rd grade
in Christian Light Language Arts (Location: GRA-CLE)
$4.25 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Language Arts - LightUnit 309
Sunrise 2 from Christian Light Education
for 3rd grade
in Christian Light Language Arts (Location: GRA-CLE)
$3.19 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Language Arts - LightUnit 310
Sunrise 2 from Christian Light Education
for 3rd grade
in Christian Light Language Arts (Location: GRA-CLE)
$3.19 (1 in stock)
Composition Notebook
by Gary & Wanda Sanseri
from Unknown Publisher
for 3rd-6th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$2.00 (4 in stock)
Courage of Sarah Noble
by Alice Dalgliesh
Reissue from Aladdin Paperbacks
Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-6th grade
1955 Newbery Honor Book
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$5.09 $2.80 (3 in stock)
Crooked Creek Ranch #1
Good and the Beautiful Library Level 3B
by Amy Drorbaugh
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$4.25 (1 in stock)
Crooked Creek Ranch #2
Good and the Beautiful Library Level 3B
by Amy Drorbaugh
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$4.25 (1 in stock)
DK First Encyclopedia
by Anita Ganeri & Chris Oxlade
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in Encyclopedias (Location: REF-ENC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
DK Help Your Kids with Language Arts
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
English for the Thoughtful Child Volume One
by Mary Hyde & Cynthia Shearer
2nd edition from Greenleaf Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in Charlotte Mason Language Arts (Location: GRA-CM)
$14.50 $7.50 (5 in stock)
First Book of Words
by Sam and Beryl Epstein, illustrated by Laszlo Roth
from Franklin Watts
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
First Dictionary and Thesaurus
by Anne Millard
1st edition from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
First Fun Thesaurus
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
First Language Lessons Level 3 - Instructor Book
by Jessie Wise & Sara Buffington
from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 3rd-4th grade
in First Language Lessons (Location: GRA-FLL)
$26.36 $16.00 (2 in stock)
Games for Writing
by Peggy Kaye
1st edition from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Golden Book Illustrated Dictionary - 6 volume Set
from Golden Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$14.40 (1 in stock)
Grammar Island - Student Book
MCT Language Arts Level 1
by Michael Clay Thompson
3rd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 3rd-4th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$26.00 (1 in stock)
Grammar Songs - Book only
by Kathy Troxel
from Audio Memory
for 3rd-8th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Grammar Songs with CD
Audio Memory CDs
by Kathy Troxel
from Audio Memory
for 3rd-8th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$22.95 $15.00 (2 in stock)
Heather and the Highland Pony
by Maggie Felsch
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$7.65 (1 in stock)
I Sat by the Sea
by Jenny Phillips (editor)
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$5.95 (1 in stock)
Illustrated Young Readers' Dictionary
from Simon and Schuster
for 3rd-6th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Intermediate Language Lessons - Teacher's Guide
Tch from Lost Classics Book Co.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Emma Serl Language Lessons (Location: GRA-SERL)
$14.00 (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 (1 in stock)
Journey of Five
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$7.65 (1 in stock)
King of the Wind
by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-7th grade
1949 Newbery Medal winner
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$6.79 $3.20 (1 in stock)
Kingdom of Kind
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$7.65 (2 in stock)
Kingfisher First Dictionary
by John Grisewood
from Kingfisher
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Language 3 - Answer Key (old)
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 3rd grade
$2.55 (2 in stock)
Language Arts & Literature Level 3 - Answer Key
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$6.80 (1 in stock)
Language Arts 3 - Curriculum/Lesson Plans
5th edition from A Beka Books
for 3rd grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$30.60 (1 in stock)
Language Arts 3 - Curriculum/Lesson Plans (old)
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 3rd grade
$6.80 (4 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 $4.40 (1 in stock)
Little Glass Lake: Turtles
Book 2, Level 2B
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 1st-3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$4.25 (1 in stock)
LOE Essentials Reader
2nd edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for 2nd-6th grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$24.99 $12.50 (1 in stock)
LOE Essentials Reader - Student Activity Book
2nd edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for 2nd-6th grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$14.99 $10.00 (2 in stock)
LOE Essentials Reader - Teacher's Guide
2nd edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for 2nd-6th grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$19.99 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Maria's Many Colors
The Good and the Beautiful Library Level 2
by Breckyn Wood, Illustrated by Bojana Stojanovic
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 1st-3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$3.83 (1 in stock)
Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary
from Merriam-Webster
for 3rd-5th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$16.96 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Merriam-Webster's First Dictionary
by Ruth Heller, illustrator
from Merriam-Webster
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Motion in Sports
by David Wiseman
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-6th grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
$4.68 (1 in stock)
Mud Trilogy - Set
by Michael Clay Thompson
from Royal Fireworks Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$28.00 (1 in stock)
Music of the Hemispheres - Student Book
Poetics Strand Level 1
by Michael Clay Thompson
2nd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 3rd-4th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$26.00 (1 in stock)
My Book of Stories
by Deborah Patterson
from British Library
for 3rd-6th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
My Second Picture Dictionary
Ginn Elementary English Series
by Reid, Crane, & Jenkins, illustrated by Tom Cooke and Bea Holmes
from Ginn and Co.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Oral Language Exercises
from A Beka Books
for 1st-6th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$4.00 (5 in stock)
Organizing Thinking Book 1: Graphic Organizers
by Howard Black, Sandra Parks
from Critical Thinking Books
for 2nd-4th grade
in Old Edition Logic (Location: ZCLE-LOG)
$16.50 (1 in stock)
Paragraph Town - Student Book
by Michael Clay Thompson
3rd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$29.50 (2 in stock)
Primary Language Lessons
by Emma Serl
from Lost Classics Book Co.
for 2nd-3rd Grade
in Emma Serl Language Lessons (Location: GRA-SERL)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
Primary Language Lessons (Lingua Mater)
by Emma Serl
Updated from Hillside Education
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Charlotte Mason Language Arts (Location: GRA-CM)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Punching the Clock
by Marvin Terban, illustrated by Tom Huffman
from Clarion Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Random House Children's Encyclopedia
by Dorling Kindersley Ltd
from Random House
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Encyclopedias (Location: REF-ENC)
$16.00 (1 in stock)
Rex Barks: Diagramming Sentences Made Easy
by Phyllis Davenport
from Paper Tiger
for 3rd-6th grade
in Miscellaneous Grammar Curriculum (Location: GRA-MISC)
$18.00 (2 in stock)
Right Word
by Jen Bryant
from Eerdmans
for 1st-4th grade
2015 Caldecott Honor Book, 2015 Robert F. Sibert Medal winner
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$16.14 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Roget's Student Thesaurus
by Andrew Schiller, William A. Jenkins
Rev Sub from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Scholastic Children's Dictionary
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-5th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Scholastic Children's Dictionary
by Scholastic Inc.
Revised from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$8.80 (1 in stock)
Scholastic Children's Thesaurus
by John Bollard
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Scholastic First Dictionary
from Scholastic Reference
for 1st-4th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Sentence Island - 2nd Edition Set
Writing Strand Level 1
by Michael Clay Thompson
2nd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 3rd-4th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
$55.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Spelling Dictionary for Writers Book 2
by Gregory Hurray
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Spelling (Location: SPE-EPS)
$15.38 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Strong Start in Language
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Clearance: Home School Resources (Location: ZCLE-HSR)
$1.50 (3 in stock)
Three Gold Doubloons
Level 7
by Edith Thacher Hurd, illustrated by Clement Hurd
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-6th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$3.20 (2 in stock)
Timothy of the 10th Floor
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$7.65 (1 in stock)
Tino and the Typhoon
by Alice Geer Kelsey, edited by Jenny Phillips
2020 Reissue from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-6th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Usborne Children's Encyclopedia
Usborne Internet-Linked
by Jane Elliott & Colin King
from Usborne
for 3rd-6th grade
in Encyclopedias (Location: REF-ENC)
$7.20 (1 in stock)
Usborne Children's Encyclopedia
by Felicity Brooks, Anna Claybourne, eds.
from Usborne
for 3rd-6th grade
in Encyclopedias (Location: REF-ENC)
$8.80 (2 in stock)
Usborne Illustrated Dictionary
by Edited by Jane Bingham, designed by Susie McCaffrey
from Usborne
for 3rd-Adult
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$8.80 (1 in stock)
Usborne Illustrated Grammar and Punctuation
from Usborne
for 3rd-7th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Usborne Not-Your-Everday Illustrated Thesaurus
by James Maclaine
from EDC Publishing
for 2nd-5th grade
in Thesauruses (Location: REF-THES)
$5.60 (2 in stock)
Violet and the Volcanoes #1
Level 5
by Amy Drorbaugh, illustrated by Brandon Dorman
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-6th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$4.25 (2 in stock)
WISE Guide Enrichment Activity Worksheets A-M
by Elizabeth Fitzgerald
from LITHBTH Educational Services
for 1st-4th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$24.00 (1 in stock)
WISE Guide for Spelling (really old)
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-4th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Word Wizard's Book of Adverbs
by Robin Johnson
from Crabtree Publishing
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Word Wizard's Book of Nouns
by Robin Johnson
from Crabtree Publishing
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Word Wizard's Book of Pronouns
by Robin Johnson
from Crabtree Publishing
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Word Wizard's Book of Verbs
by Robin Johnson
from Crabtree Publishing
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Word Write Now
by Loranna Schwacofer
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$35.00 $22.00 (1 in stock)
Write Book for Christian Families
by Robert Allen
from Bob Jones University Press
for 1st-12th grades
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Writer's Toolbox
by Nancy Loewen; illustrated by Christopher Lyles, Dawn Beacon, and Todd Ouren
from Picture Window Books
for 2nd-4th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Writing Strands - Teaching Companion
Writing Strands
by Dave Marks
from Master Books
Writing Curriculum for Preschool-12th grade
in Writing Strands (Location: WRI-WS)
$8.79 $5.50 (1 in stock)
Young Students Learning Library - 23 Volume Set
from Newfield Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Encyclopedias (Location: REF-ENC)
$48.00 (1 in stock)
Sign Up!

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Learn more about our store location and hours

Connect

503.655.1951

hello@exodusbooks.com

19146 Molalla Ave,
Oregon City, OR 97045