Language Arts

The goal of our language arts curriculum in the elementary grades is to ensure every student has a firm foundation in phonemic awareness, comprehension, grammar, writing, vocabulary and spelling.  We work with our students to develop strong reading, writing and speaking skills in order for them to be effective communicators. 
 
In our lower elementary grades (K-2), we utilize a reading program that blends a strong phonics foundation with a rich literature experience, providing a balanced approach to reading and language arts.  Grammar, punctuation and spelling lessons are embedded in the reading series. The writing process is introduced through interactive writing activities and students learn writing traits such as word choice, organization and conventions.  Teachers instruct handwriting using the Zaner-Bloser method.

As our 3^rd through 5^th graders continue to develop their reading skills, they are challenged to become more active, thinking readers.  Our reading series grows with them and embeds phonics, writing skills, study strategies, spelling and grammar into the curriculum.  We continue to teach writing as a process and students further hone their skills.  Students learn to write clearly and effectively, to share information and knowledge, to influence and persuade, and to create and entertain.
 
Students gain the experience of gathering their ideas and presenting them in front of a group.  St. Joe’s elementary students learn to communicate with confidence, clarity, creativity and competence.  The transition to cursive writing occurs in 3^rd grade and is reinforced in subsequent grades.  Our older elementary students learn research and inquiry methods and teachers introduce note taking and the organization of information to help prepare them for the move to middle school.