Language Arts || Sylvania Schools

Introduction
The Sylvania Schools Language Arts Course of Study provides the focus and structure for all language arts teaching in grades K-12. Consistency from classroom to classroom and building to building is essential in assuring student success. In order to insure that students receive the balanced and complete education in reading, writing, and language essential for their success in life, it is important that every teacher of language arts focus on the concepts, applications, and skills appropriate for his/her grade level.

When concepts from a previous grade level have not been mastered by some students, the remedy is intervention for the students who need assistance—not a change in the content of the curriculum for all students. It is the nature of much learning that, once a concept or skill has been learned, it needs to be used and reviewed in order to be maintained. However, reviewing skills and concepts does not mean re-teaching them. Rather they should be reviewed and maintained through use in new areas of learning. For example, students should be constructing multiple paragraphs in their writing by the end of fourth grade. If they are still not using paragraphs in sixth grade, the need for paragraphing can be reviewed in the context of writing personal experience narratives or through writing workshop conferencing in the context of some form of writing appropriate to sixth grade, rather than re-teaching paragraphing as if it were a new skill.

The learning and performance objectives in this course of study are complete and represent the content of the language arts program adopted by the Sylvania Schools Board of Education. They will not be changed. However, the other elements of this course of study document (such as related assessments, rationale, teacher notes) will be updated periodically as new materials become available and as the Language Arts Curriculum and Alignment Team continue to research and identify best practice in the teaching of reading, writing, and language skills.

Philosophy
In developing language arts standards for Sylvania Schools, the district recognizes that advanced language skills are essential to successful communication in a global world and that the language arts experience for our students should reflect demands of the workplace, society, and ever-changing technology.

As language is both a means of creative expression and a tool for communication, we can use language arts (reading, writing, listening, viewing, and speaking) as a vehicle to foster higher levels of thinking across the curriculum. It is our job, as educators, to teach students to read appreciatively and analytically; to write expressively and concisely; to speak fluently and logically; and to listen and view actively and critically.

The language arts curriculum should extend beyond basic literacy. It should challenge students’ abilities, enrich their knowledge of the world, and show them the opportunities available in life’s endeavors.

The language arts educational environment should produce learning opportunities that nurture development at a pace and level commensurate with each student’s unique blend of aptitudes, achievements, needs, learning styles, language experiences, family backgrounds and interests.

This language arts course of study encompasses the necessary goals and objectives to be taught across the grades. It also allows educators to use their own unique styles to accomplish the standards within this document.