The Lower School language arts program reflects a developmentally and research based approach to literacy that involves reading, writing, listening and speaking. We use a Balanced Literacy Approach to instruction that includes a broad range of reading and writing instructional strategies. Literature is often integrated with social studies themes as well as to student interests. Along with the myriad of skills students need to master in order to decode, encode, read fluently and recall text, reading instruction focuses on reading for understanding. It builds on student skills while helping students develop connections with the text. Students participate in Reading Workshop, during which students take advantage of small and large group instruction and read independently.
Writing Workshop focuses on writing using a broad range of genres. Students learn the fundamentals of our written language as well as the craft of a writer. Young children will begin by writing expository pieces and as they mature will write for many other purposes across the curriculum.