3rd/4th Grade Level English Language Arts Class: Semester 1

USE COUPON CODE: MCGRAPJXQK10 to receive $10 off any of my Multi-day classes.
PLUS, Students enrolled by July 15th, will receive a $10 refund for enrolling early.

English/Language Arts is more than just reading, writing, and spelling. Yes, this is the bulk of English class, however, I make my classes fun and enjoyable with hands-on activities. So many students struggle with Language Arts, and I want to change that misconception.

My class will include lecture, hands-on activities, assessment, games, and activities to teach the topic of the week.
We will begin each class with a welcome. 
I will review or take questions.
On our meeting day, I will introduce our weekly spelling and vocabulary words.
I will lecture the class on our new topic for the week.
We will go over our reading sections for the week and discuss what we read.
We will end class with our writing goal and lesson.
I will assess the group in various way to be sure the class understands the topic: by class discussion, Q&A, Trivia game, etc.
We will wrap up class with homework assignments for the week, any final questions.

Students are encouraged to message me outside of class if they have any questions, concerns, or need extra help. I offer private tutoring classes on Outschool, and am happy to offer these to my English students with a discount.

Learners will need to be ready for 3rd/4th grade level English. This does not mean students must be in 3rd-4th grade. This simply means, any student can be in this class, no matter age or grade, as long as the student is ready for 3rd-4th grade English. If you have questions about this, please message me and I can help you decide if you are ready for this class.

Students must respectful and mindful of other students in class. Students need to be able to mute and unmute themselves. I highly encourage class discussion and interaction, but not during lecture or teaching moments. I want all students to have fun and develop a love for English. 

Weeks 1-4
Unit 1: Lessons 1-17
Grammar, Punctuation & Usage • Abbreviations—Part 1 • Editing • Parts of speech: adjectives, adverbs, articles, nouns, pronouns, verbs • Quotation punctuation: commas • Quotation punctuation: periods • Sentence diagramming • Singular and plural possessive nouns • Synonyms and antonyms Homophones • heal/heel • it’s/its • past/passed • peak/peek • stairs/stares • their/there/they’re Other • Alphabetizing • Reading comprehension • Vocabulary

Writing • Avoiding redundancy • Learning from the masters • Opening sentences • Rhyme schemes • Summarizing • Topic sentences • Using sensory language: color • Using sensory language: sound • Writing effective paragraphs • Writing from the heart • Writing poetry

Literature • Choosing good books • Copyrights • Fiction vs. nonfiction  • Poetic reading and devices: alliteration, onomatopoeia • Protagonists and antagonists

Spelling Rules S, F, L, or Z at the End of Words Double Consonants to Close Syllables Principles Long and short vowels Syllables Words that end with /er/ Plural nouns: F and FE Suffixes -ful, -less Prefixes semi-, preSpelling Patterns Challenging words with QU Contractions aren’t, isn’t, we’re, she’d, who’s, can’t, it’s, we’ve.

Weeks 4-7
Unit 2: Lessons 16-34
Grammar, Punctuation & Usage • A sentence needs three things • Abbreviations—Part 2 • Capitalizing proper nouns • Coordinating conjunctions • Editing • Independent clauses and fragments • Parallel structure in a series • Sentence writing • Synonyms and antonyms

Homophones • brake/break • bury/berry • cheap/cheep • chews/choose • creak/creek • crews/cruise Other • Alphabetizing • Reading comprehension • Vocabulary

Writing • Adding description • Conflict • Effective opening sentences • Learning from the masters • Rewriting in your own words • Topic sentences • Using sensory language: touch • Using transition words • Varying first words in a paragraph • Writing effective paragraphs • Writing from the heart • Writing thank-you notes

Literature • Poetic devices: alliteration, personification, similes • Poetry reading

 Spelling Rules Applying spelling rules to the base words and compound words C, K, or CK at the End of Words C or K at the Beginning or Middle of Words 1-1-1 Rule Principles Making nouns that end with O plural Making nouns that end in F and FE plural Irregular plural nouns Suffixes -ance, -ence Spelling Patterns Challenging words with AGE and UE Contractions we’d, don’t, mustn’t, weren’t, doesn’t, she’s, he’s

Weeks 7-10
Unit 3: Lessons 35-50
Grammar, Punctuation & Usage • Commas in a series • Direct objects • Editing • Objects of prepositions • Phrases • Prepositions and prepositional phrases • Semicolons • Sentence diagramming

Homophones • desert/dessert • flea/flee • flour/flower • flu/flew • guessed/guest • higher/hire

Other • Alphabetizing • Reading comprehension • Vocabulary

Writing:  • Conflict • Effective paragraph writing • Learning from the masters • Outlining a story • Using sensory language: smell • Using well-chosen verbs • Writing a book review • Writing a story • Writing from the heart

Literature : • Historical fiction • Horizon • Keys and legends • Luxembourg 

 Spelling Rules Plural Nouns Using CH or TCH Suffixes -er, -ment Prefixes non-, post-, over-, unSpelling Patterns Challenging words with PH Challenging words with GN Contractions we’ll, she’s, what’s, haven’t, didn’t, it’ll, he’ll, shouldn’t

Weeks 10-14
Unit 4: Lessons 51-60
Grammar, Punctuation & Usage • Abbreviations: Part 3 • Capitalization and titles • Commands • Editing • Parallel construction • Run-on sentences • Verb tenses

Homophones • knead/need • mail/male • marry/merry • pail/pale • pain/pane

Other • Alphabetizing • Reading comprehension • Vocabulary

Writing  • Adding description • Learning from the masters • News article writing • Rewriting in your own words • Summarizing • Using sensory language: taste • Varying first words in a paragraph • Writing effective paragraphs • Writing from the heart

Literature  • Artists: Albert Bierstadt • Idioms • Literature: context clues, judging books, summarizing •Capitalization: United States of America • US Capitol, Washington Monument, White House, Statue of Liberty • US National Parks • Washington, DC which are all specific places.

Spelling Rules Using DGE Consonant + LE Principles Recognizing vowel vs. consonant suffixes Suffix -al Prefixes over-, unSpelling Patterns WR Challenging words with ACC Contractions couldn’t, hadn’t, he’s, it’s, she’d, she’ll, where’s, who’ll

Week 15:
End of Semester Trivia Game