Language Arts Department

The Language Arts Department encompasses all components of the communication process—reading, writing, speaking and listening. The fundamental goal is to develop effective communication skills that will serve as tools for acquiring and applying other skills and knowledge. To communicate is to participate in an active, purposeful process that results in shared meaning.

Because the communications skills are interrelated and interdependent, they should be taught concurrently and reinforced continuously. Effective language instruction is balanced between the two receptive processes of listening and reading and the two expressive processes of speaking and writing. Students need to communicate—engage in purposeful discussions in order to make meaningful connections with what they are learning.

Writing is the most abstract form of verbal thinking. To write clearly, the students must be able not only to have control over mechanics of the craft, but they must also be able to think clearly and organize their thoughts effectively. Therefore, instruction in the language arts includes instruction in reasoning skills and engages students in problem solving experiences. Such experiences help develop the thinking components of observing, planning, forecasting, decision making, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating.

The language arts classroom provides a supportive environment for the students as they are encouraged to experiment and take risks with using language. Teachers deliver instruction appropriate for all learners, using a variety of resources, assessments, and technology.