Language arts

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Language arts refers to the skills, including reading, composition, speech, spelling, and dramatics, taught in elementary and secondary schools to give students a thorough proficiency in using the language. Language arts is the subject (reading, literature, and composition) that aims at developing comprehension and capacity for the use of written and oral language. Through the study of language arts, word choice in communication becomes more descriptive. This type of development is known as vocabulary. The five strands of the Language arts are reading, composition, speaking, spelling, and dramatics.

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[edit] Teaching

In teaching language arts, teachers organize what is to be taught through lesson plans to clearly plan out, what the teacher’s objectives for that lesson are, and by which means to accomplish those lessons in the most precise and understandable manner. Language Arts covers a broad range of information and topics and usually different areas of Language Arts are separated by grade level. Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions in Language Arts. Students learn and benefit from instruction in the English/Language Arts.

Teachers design lesson plans geared toward their curriculum for ease and comprehension when teaching their students. Being able to clearly present lessons requires organization and focus on the topic under consideration. In colleges and universities this field is often referred to as "English studies."

The International Reading Association (IRA) and The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) offer standards for teaching language arts that address the importance of students acquiring multiple literacy skills.

11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities. --IRA/NCTE ELA Standards

Consequently, the English/Language Arts classroom can and should be a unique place to develop voice as well as to respect and to hear all voices. It is the place where many students learn they have a right to their own language, where multiple forms of literacy are explored, where censorship is abhorred, and where difference is valued in pursuit of an education befitting a democracy. --NCTE Core Values and Benefits[1]

[edit] Reading

Reading, by definition, is the ability and knowledge of a language that allows comprehension by grasping the meaning of written or printed characters, words, or sentences. Reading involves a wide variety of print and nonprint texts that help a reader gain an understanding of what is being read. Reading allows a reader to acquire new information, gain knowledge and understanding, and for personal fulfillment. Reading of texts that are often included in educational curriculum include fiction, nonfiction, classic, and contemporary works.

Each state in the United States sets standards for reading that are incorporated into the local curriculum that are taught within the school system. In partnership with the International Reading Association (IRA), The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) offers standards for teaching language arts. The list of 12 standards that offer guidance for the opportunities and resources students should have in order to develop the language skills they need.

The IRA/NCTE standards concerning reading are:

1.Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works. 2.Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience. 3.Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics.[1]

[edit] Composition

Composition is defined as the combination of distinct parts or elements to form a whole and the manner in which these elements are combined or related. The following are examples of Composition in Language Arts:

  • The art or act of composing a literary work
  • The structure or organization of literature
  • A short essay, especially one written as an academic exercise (an essay is a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative) [2] There are many types of short essays, including, but not limited to:
1. Five-paragraph essay
2. Argumentative essay
3. Cause and effect essay
4. Comparative essay.

Compositions may also include:

According to The National Council of Teachers of English, the standards for composition are:
  1. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).
  2. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
  3. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
  4. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and non-print texts.
  5. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).[3]

[edit] Grammar

Grammar is the study of the structure and features of a language. Grammar usually consists of rules and standards that are to be followed to produce acceptable writing and speaking.[4]