My Language Arts program is comprised of three distinct components: Reading, Writing, and Word Work. We cover each of these topics every day at school.
Reading
It is important for children to read every day, both independently, and to others. Your child should read "good fit books" at home for a minimum of 20 minutes per day as part of their every day routine. A "good fit" book is one that interests your child, and one in which he/she can recognize most of the words quite easily. If you notice your child routinely choosing books that are too difficult, it's a good idea to encourage them to save those books until you can read them together. When parents read to their children, it gives adults the opportunity to model fluency and expression, and to teach children how to "tune into" interesting, unfamiliar words.
Writing
We do a lot of writing in Grade 2, from personal journal entries and stories that challenge students' creativity, to technical, instructional writing. No matter what students write, it is a process that involves planning, drafting, editing, and revising. With the exception of journal writing, students usually work 1-2 weeks on a piece before it is ready for "publishing". Regular printing practice and correct letter formation not only makes writing tasks easier, it makes the student's work more readable too!
Word Work
Word Work focuses on common spelling patterns. Much research over the years has shown that simply teaching "spelling words", and having students memorize them, is ineffective practice. Children need to understand and remember common patterns of spelling found in the English language, and to apply these in their written work. More importantly, Word Work also focuses on developing the child's vocabulary.
