GRADE 5 LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM

READING

Word Study

Students Will:

Recognize and know the meanings of fifth grade level words.

Identify and understand unknown words by using reading strategies such as:

- Analyzing words and their parts; using base words, prefixes and suffixes, syllables.

- Re-reading entire phrases or sentences for clues.

Read beginning grade level text and more difficult texts fluentlyas the year progresses.

Be able to use dictionaries, glossaries and other resources to figure out the meaning of unknown words and symbols.

Narrative Text

Students Will:

Analyze the kinds of narrative genre, such as tall tales, historical fiction, and fantasy.

Analyze a character’s personality and the reason for their actions.

Analyze how characters and communities represent life in good literature.

Informational Text

Students Will:

Analyze non-fiction texts, such as advertisements, editorials, and atlases.

Explain how authors help readers understand by using pictures, charts, graphs, and tables of contents, summaries, and conclusions.

Recognize informational text patterns such as compare/contrast and problem/solution.

Comprehension

Students Will:

Retell and summarize the main idea(s) and details for fiction and non-fiction texts at a fifth grade level.

Use prior knowledge from other subject areas, such as science and social studies.

Use their own experiences to help understand new ideas and connect to ideas in texts.

Metacognition

Students Will:

Know when they do or do not understand while reading, writing and listening.

Use strategies to improve comprehension, such as:

- Predict what will happen next.

- Ask questions before, during, and after reading.

- Summarize the text.

- Reread the text.

- Make a mental picture of what the text is about.

Critical Standards

Students Will:

Discuss and use standards to measure the quality of their own work and the work of others

Reading Attitude

Students Will:

Be excited about reading and learning how to read.

Choose to read and write on his/her own during free time in school and at home.

WRITING

Writing Genre

Students Will:

Write narratives such as mysteries, tall tales or historical fiction that includes characters, setting, problem/solution, and a sequence of events.

Write poetry based on reading a variety of grade level poetry.

Write a position paper where the opinion is stated and supported with evidence.

Produce and present a research project with help from the teacher. The steps should include using the writing process.

Writing Process

Students Will:

Think about the audience and purpose for writing.

Think of ideas for writing; include characters, setting and sequence. Develop relationships, comparing and contrasting elements.

Read a partner’s writing and give advice for helping them create a better piece of writing.

Proofread their own writing using grade level checklists.

Personal Style

Students Will:

Develop individual style to add to written messages. Example: Use humor, express feelings, use details and show examples.

Grammar and Usage

Students Will:

Write with complete sentences using nouns, pronouns, articles, conjunctions, hyphens, commas and colons.

Spelling

Students Will:

Spell grade level words they see often and correctly.

Sound out words, use word lists given by the teacher, use dictionaries to figure out how to spell more words.

Handwriting

Students Will:

Write neatly in cursive.

Writing Attitude

Students Will:

Be excited about writing and learning how to become better writers.

SPEAKING

Conventions

Students Will:

Use difficult verbs correctly, such as sit/sat, lie/lay, and rise/raise.

Use language to communicate with all kinds of people for all kinds of reasons (research, explanation, persuasion).

Use more than one volume and pace of talking to make speech more interesting.

Make presentations using Standard English, or their version of Standard English if they are in the process of learning English.

Discourse

Ongoing:

Plan and deliver persuasive presentations or reports that express the point they want to make and support the point with evidence or examples.

Participate in small group conversations about books or schoolwork.

Discuss literature with classmates, studying the characters, setting and plot.

LISTENING AND VIEWING

Response

Students Will:

Listen to or view and discuss a variety of genre; fairy tales, poetry, persuasive talks, and mysteries.

Use speaking, illustrating, and/or writing to understand texts better.

Go beyond the information given by a speaker to draw conclusions.