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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-emphasiswhere 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 aquiring 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 homeplate 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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178 Items found Print
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Active Filters: 5th grade (Ages 10-11)
Adam of the Road - TLP Bundle
by Barbara Blakey
for 3rd-6th grade
in Total Language Plus Guides (Location: LITSG-TLP)
American Heritage Children's Dictionary
from Houghton Mifflin
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Amos Fortune, Free Man
by Elizabeth Yates, illustrated by Nora S. Unwin
from Puffin Books
Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade
1951 Newbery Medal winner
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Amos Fortune, Free Man - TLP Guide
Total Language Plus Literature Guides
from Total Language Plus
for 5th-6th Grade
in Total Language Plus Guides (Location: LITSG-TLP)
$21.95
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)
$7.99
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)
$19.99
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)
$9.99
Antonyms Wrap-Up Keys
from Learning Wrap-Ups
for 3rd-6th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
Ben and Me
by Robert Lawson
from Little, Brown & Company
Humor/historical fiction for 2nd-5th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99 $5.00 (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
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)
$9.99
Building Poems - Teacher Manual
by Michael Clay Thompson
2nd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
Caddie Woodlawn - TLP Guide
Total Language Plus Literature Guides
from Total Language Plus
for 5th-6th Grade
in Total Language Plus Guides (Location: LITSG-TLP)
Captured Words
The Good and the Beautiful Library Level 5
by Frances Williams Brown, edited by Jenny Phillips
2022 printing from The Good and the Beautiful
for 5th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$9.00 (2 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)
$15.99
Caught'ya Again!
by Jane Bell Kiester
1st edition from Maupin House Publishing
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
Charlotte's Web
by E. B. White
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-6th grade
1953 Newbery Honor Book
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99 $4.00 (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)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Chico of the Andes
The Good and the Beautiful Library Level 5
by Christine Von Hagen
2022 printing from The Good and the Beautiful
for 5th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Childcraft in Fifteen Volumes, 1961 Edition
from World Book
for 1st-6th grade
in Vintage Anthology Collections (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Childcraft in Fourteen Volumes, 1949 Edition
from World Book
for 1st-6th grade
in Vintage Anthology Collections (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Childcraft: The How and Why Library, 1972 Edition
from World Book
for 1st-6th grade
in Vintage Anthology Collections (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Childcraft: The How and Why Library, 1980 Edition
from World Book
for 1st-6th grade
in Vintage Anthology Collections (Location: VIN-ANTH)
Clockmaker's Son
The Good and the Beautiful Library Level 5
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 5th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Complete Rhyming Dictionary
from Dell Publishing
for 1st-Adult
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$8.99
Composition Notebook
by Gary & Wanda Sanseri
from Unknown Publisher
for 3rd-6th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$2.00 (6 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)
$5.99 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Creative Writer Level 2
by Boris Fishman
from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Creative Writer (Location: WRI-CREATE)
$18.95
Creative Writing Notebook #1
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 4th-12th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
Creative Writing Notebook #2
by Jenny Phillips, Maggie Felsch
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 4th-12th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
Cricket in Times Square
by George Selden
from Square Fish Publishing
Animal Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade
1961 Newbery Honor Book
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Cricket in Times Square
by George Selden, illustrated by Garth Williams
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Animal Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade
1961 Newbery Honor Book
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Cricket in Times Square
by George Selden, illustrated by Garth Williams, foreword & updates by Stacey Lee
from Square Fish Publishing
Animal Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade
1961 Newbery Honor Book
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Cricket in Times Square - TLP Guide
Total Language Plus Literature Guides
from Total Language Plus
for 5th-6th Grade
in Total Language Plus Guides (Location: LITSG-TLP)
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
by Avi
from Hyperion/Madison Press
for 4th-8th grade
2003 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$8.99
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)
Door in the Wall
by Marguerite de Angeli
from Yearling
Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade
1950 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$7.99
English for the Thoughtful Child Volume Two
by Fred Scott, Gordon Southworth & Cynthia Shearer
from Greenleaf Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Charlotte Mason Language Arts (Location: GRA-CM)
$14.50
Enough About Grammar
by Joe Floren
from Twain Productions
for 4th-10th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$10.00 (1 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)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
First Dictionary and Thesaurus
by Anne Millard
1st edition from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
First Language Lessons Level 4 - Instructor Book
First Language Lessons
by Jessie Wise and Sara Buffington
from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 4th-5th grade
in First Language Lessons (Location: GRA-FLL)
$29.95 $15.00 (1 in stock)
First Language Lessons Level 4 - Workbook
First Language Lessons
by Jessie Wise and Sara Buffington
from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 4th-5th grade
in First Language Lessons (Location: GRA-FLL)
$24.95
Fishmeal and the Mounching Monster
by Michael Clay Thompson
from Royal Fireworks Press
for 3rd-7th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E. L. Konigsburg
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Mystery/Suspense for 4th-7th grade
1968 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$8.99
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E. L. Konigsburg
35th Anniversary Edition from Atheneum
Mystery/Suspense for 4th-7th grade
1968 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Geography & Grammar Cards Level 5-7
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 5th-7th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Golden Book Illustrated Dictionary - 6 volume Set
from Golden Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
Grammar Land
by M. L. Nesbitt
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$10.95
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 (3 in stock)
Grammar Town - Student Book
MCT Language Arts Level 2
by Michael Clay Thompson
2nd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
Grammar Curriculum for 3rd-5th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
Grammar Town - Teacher Manual
MCT Language Arts Level 2
by Michael Clay Thompson
2nd edition from Royal Fireworks Press
Grammar Curriculum for 3rd-5th grade
in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT)
Guide to Grammar
by Laura Wilson
from Maupin House Publishing
for 5th-8th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$17.00 (1 in stock)
Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th- grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$15.00
Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition - Answer Key
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Harvey's Revised English Grammar
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$17.50 $10.00 (2 in stock)
Harvey's Revised English Grammar - Answer Key
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.50 $3.00 (1 in stock)
High King
Prydain Chronicles #5
by Lloyd Alexander
from Henry Holt and Company
Fantasy for 4th-8th grade
1969 Newbery Medal winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$7.99
High King
Prydain Chronicles #5
by Lloyd Alexander
from Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Fantasy for 4th-8th grade
1969 Newbery Medal winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
High King
Prydain Chronicles #5
by Lloyd Alexander
Revised 1999 Edition from Henry Holt and Company
Fantasy for 4th-8th grade
1969 Newbery Medal winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Hobbit
by J. R. R. Tolkien
2nd edition from Ballantine Books
Fantasy for 5th-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Homonyms Wrap-Up Keys
from Learning Wrap-Ups
for 3rd-6th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
Illustrated Young Readers' Dictionary
from Simon and Schuster
for 3rd-6th grade
in Dictionaries (Location: REF-DIC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Individual Studies: Lesson Plans for Grade 5
by Sonya Schafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 5th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Intermediate Language Lessons
by Emma Serl
from Applewood Books
for 4th-6th Grade
in Emma Serl Language Lessons (Location: GRA-SERL)
$14.00 (4 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 (2 in stock)
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell
Anv from Sandpiper Books
Realistic Fiction for 5th-8th grade
1961 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$9.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
Just David
by Eleanor H. Porter, with grammar and spelling updated by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
Autobiography for 4th-8th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
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)
$7.99 $4.00 (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)
$24.99
Kingfisher Young World Encyclopedia
by Larousse
from Larousse
for 4th-6th grade
in Encyclopedias (Location: REF-ENC)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Language 4-6 Home School Charts
from A Beka Books
for 4th-6th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$7.50 (3 in stock)
Language Arts - Daily Checklist
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 7th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$1.75 (1 in stock)
Language Arts 5 - Curriculum/Lesson Plans
from A Beka Books
for 5th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$24.50 (4 in stock)
Language Arts and Literature Level 5 - Course Book
3rd edition from The Good and the Beautiful
for 5th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
Language Arts and Literature Level 5 - Course Book Answer Key
3rd edition from The Good and the Beautiful
for 5th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Language Arts and Literature Level 5 - Shared Reader (old)
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 5th grade
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Language Arts Level 5 - Course Companion (old)
1st edition from The Good and the Beautiful
for 5th grade
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Language Arts Terminology Flipper
from Christopher Lee Publications
for 4th-10th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
Learning Language Arts Through Literature - 5th Grade Teacher Book
by Debbie Strayer & Susan Simpson
3rd edition from Common Sense Press
for 5th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
$23.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - 10-unit Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 5th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$102.00 $50.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 10
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 6
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 7
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 8
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Book 9
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$108.00
Lifepac: Language Arts 5 - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
in AOP Lifepacs: Language Arts (Location: GRA-AOP)
$26.75 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Light in the Forest
by Conrad Richter
from Vintage Classics
Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.95
Light in the Forest
by Conrad Richter, illustrated by Warren Chappell
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade
$15.95
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)
$9.99
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Chronicles of Narnia Book 2
by C. S. Lewis, illustrated by Pauline Baynes
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - TLP Guide
Total Language Plus Literature Guides
by Barbara Blakey
from Total Language Plus
for 5th-6th Grade
in Total Language Plus Guides (Location: LITSG-TLP)
Little Grammar People
by Nuri Mass
from Living Book Press
for 3rd-8th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$14.99
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