Language Arts

Language Arts, formerly known as English or Grammar, comprises reading, writing, spelling, listening, and speaking. Each of these is crucial to developing solid communication skills. To see what is expected of your student by the end of a grade, visit our language arts standards page. Writing, spelling, and reading can be made easier with games and organizational tools. The items listed here were either tutor-created to quickly print and use (for free) or they are professionally-made items that parents and tutors (and their students!) find effective.

Reading
The only way to improve at reading is to read! The evidence and reports all come back to the same point: 20 minutes or more every day outside of school. The Los Angeles Unified School District’s Website notes:

“According to the new Reading/Language Arts Framework, students must read a half million words per year in grades K-3 and a million words per year, or a minimum of 20 minutes every day, in the upper grades to gain enough practice to become competent, fluent readers. A rich collection of high-interest, curriculum-related library books accessible both at home and at school helps to make this reading both possible and engaging.”

Finding a Book with a Book List
Finding the right book can be a challenge for people who don’t inherently enjoy reading. However, these district and Lexile lists will help.

School District Website’s Reading Lists
The Saddleback Valley School District website has a great list of recommended reading for all ages. It will help you select books at stores, the library, or from on-line sellers. Did you know that some districts (including Capo and Saddleback) have recommended reading lists at the library? Check it out…it will save time choosing books and will prevent getting the wrong level of book.

Lexile Scores and California Reading List Number
You’ll find another book list at Lexile.com. This great resource lets you search for books by title, author, ISBN number, or lexile score.

The Lexile Score can be found on your student’s California Reading List Number near the bottom of the STAR report, probably near your address. The Lexile score allows you to gauge your student’s level and therefore find appropriate books. In a nutshell, it shows what level of book your child should read to have 75% comprehension. The idea behind this is that we don’t become better readers by reading material that is too easy or too hard. But if we master a certain level, we can grow and move up to the next. For answers to more questions, visit the Lexile website’s parent section or updates section.

Writing/Spelling
Saying what we mean in words is a crucial skill at any age. However, if you have been away from formal writing for a while, you might not recall what goes into a proper sentence, paragraph, or essay. You’ll want to be able to help your student with these, as third graders should know how to write a clear paragraph, fourth graders are building skills for research, and from fifth grade on, California State Standards expect students to know how to write all types of five-paragraph essays.

Rubrics
Parents, tutors, and students can gauge the quality of a piece of work with a rubric, a guide that tells you what qualities it takes to get a certain grade. Teachers often provide these now along with the assignment. If not, use these: General Rubric for Grades 3 to 12, Rubric for an Informative Essay, and Rubric for a Persuasive Essay