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4th / 5th Grade English Language Arts Homeschool Spring Semester

Engaging Language Arts semester course. Students will read and discuss four books across a variety of genres and practice basic 4th / 5th grade grammar topics. Optional writing projects are included. A great supplement to any homeschool.
Alison Stephens
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(356)
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Class

What's included

24 live meetings
20 in-class hours
Homework
2-4 hours per week. Between classes, students will: 1. Read (or listen to) the assigned reading chapters before each class discussion. A reading guide will be provided to help with comprehension and preparation. 2. Complete the provided grammar practice worksheets to reinforce the grammar material 3. Complete various writing tasks
Certificate of Completion
Parents may contact me to discuss any requests for grades or for completion verification.
Grading
included

Class Experience

US Grade 4 - 5
NOTE: The material for this course is based on accepted fourth/fifth grade level language arts standards. It may also be appropriate for those outside this range. I am willing to accept ages 9-11 in this class, if appropriate for a student's skills, and I am always willing to communicate with parents regarding any learner's placement.

The 2025 Spring classes will meet twice/week for 12 weeks (24 classes) 


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LITERATURE: 
   √  "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by CS Lewis (Adventure)
   √  "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster (Fantasy)
   √  "Ben and Me" by Robert Lawson (Historical Fiction)
   √  "Anne of Green Gables" by LM Montgomery

GRAMMAR / LITERATURE TOPICS
     * Parts of a Paragraph [Identifying the main idea, supporting details, conclusion]
     * Basic Sentence Diagrams [study of word functions]
     * Recognizing Verb Tenses [intro to the progressive tense]
     * Frequently Confused Words

WRITING AND CREATIVE PROJECTS (OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES)
     Response to Literature
     Opinion / Persuasive Essay
__________________

BOOK DETAILS:
1. "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by CS Lewis
This third Narnian tale follows the journey of Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace as they embark on a seafaring adventure with King Caspian in the world of Narnia. Their mission is to find the lost Lords of Narnia and explore uncharted territories. Along the way, they encounter various creatures, face personal challenges, and confront the temptations in this world beyond their own. Through their experiences, they learn valuable lessons about courage, redemption, loyalty, and friendship. Ultimately, their voyage leads them to the edge of the Narnian world where they encounter Aslan once again, before returning to their own world forever changed by their extraordinary adventure.
  
2. "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
This whimsical and captivating children's novel follows the adventures of a young boy named Milo, who discovers a mysterious tollbooth in his room. Intrigued, he drives through it and finds himself in the Kingdom of Wisdom, a world filled with wordplay, puns, and imaginative characters. Accompanied by his faithful companion, Tock the watchdog, Milo embarks on a quest to rescue the princesses Rhyme and Reason, restore balance to the kingdom, and learn the importance of curiosity, knowledge, and the joy of learning along the way.
 
3. "Ben and Me" by Robert Lawson
"Ben and Me" is a charming and humorous children's book that tells the extraordinary story of Benjamin Franklin and his clever mouse friend, Amos. Narrated by Amos, the story follows the imaginary and crucial role he played in Franklin's life, offering inventive ideas and practical solutions that contributed to Franklin's success as a statesman, inventor, and scientist. Through amusing adventures and valuable life lessons, this heartwarming tale highlights the enduring friendship between a remarkable man and an equally remarkable mouse, showcasing the power of collaboration, determination, and ingenuity.

4. "Anne of Green Gables" by LM Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908 by Lucy Maud Montgomery, is a much-loved children's classic. This heartwarming story has beckoned generations of readers into the special world of Green Gables on Prince Edward Island, where an orphan girl, Anne Shirley, is adopted by the Cuthberts. With her wit, charm, and strong spirit, Anne quickly wins the hearts of everyone she meets and learns to navigate the world around her, eventually growing into an independent young woman. Along the way she experiences the joys and sorrows of growing up and develops meaningful relationships that last a lifetime. The story explores all the vulnerability, expectations, and dreams of a child growing up, Anne of Green Gables is a wonderful portrait of a time, a place, a family… and, most of all, love.  
-excerpt from Goodreads and Amazon summaries


______________________
This twelve-week unit is one independent half of a fourth / fifth grade language arts course, one offered in the fall and the other in the spring.  The course is designed to provide learners with a strong language arts foundation as they prepare for the years of study ahead of them. At this stage in their development, learners begin to step up into exciting new areas of learning. They begin to read more independently, gain a deeper understanding of grammatical structure and vocabulary, and find a greater freedom in their writing. 

The two semesters in the course are fully self-contained and able to stand alone. They can be completed individually and in any order. Each semester includes literature study (reading 3-4 books, poetry, or informational text),  a specific grammar focus, and optional writing projects. 

Students will be given a reading schedule and reading guides for each novel study. Every week, students will participate in engaging literary discussion, study a series of short grammar lessons, and enjoy a fun weekly vocabulary "Word of the Week" challenge. I will also provide various worksheets for at-home grammar practice. The lessons will often be accompanied by slides and other visuals to encourage focus and retention.

Parents are welcome to communicate with me ahead of time regarding any grading or certificate-of-completion needs. 

_________________

FALL SEMESTER OVERVIEW (FOR REFERENCE)

LITERATURE
√  "The Magician's Nephew" by CS Lewis (Fantasy)
√   "Who Was Louis Braille?" by Margaret Frith (Biography)
√   "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry (Historical Fiction)
√   "The Story Collector: A New York Public Library Book" by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb (Mystery)

GRAMMAR / LITERATURE TOPICS
* Literary Elements [setting, point of view, plot, character, climax, theme]
* Figurative Language [simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration]
* Sentence Structure [coordinating conjunctions, compound subject/predicate, compound sentences]
* Punctuation [writing direct quotes and dialogue]
* Various Vocabulary Skills [Prefixes and Roots, synonym/antonym, using context clues]

WRITING AND CREATIVE PROJECTS (OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES)
Descriptive paragraph [how to use a thesaurus]
Creative projects [Projects from two of our books]
Learning Goals
Students will study, practice, and interact with a mixture of fourth and fifth grade level literature and grammar topics, demonstrating understanding and mastery through worksheets and class discussion.
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
4 Units
24 Lessons
over 12 Weeks
Unit 1: "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"
Lesson 1:
Intro to Course and Book (Read Chapter 1 Before Class)
 Course Format and Expectations
Author Intro and Pre-Reading Activities, Chapter 1
Basic Diagram: Sub/Pred 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Chapters 2-4
 Book Discussion
Grammar Focus: Diagram Sub/Pred 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Chapters 5-8
 Book Discussion
Grammar Focus: Diagrams - Modifiers 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Chapters 9-12
 Book Discussion
Grammar Focus: Diagrams - Direct Objects/Indirect Objects 
50 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Parental Guidance
All literature is chosen from a generally recognized collection of age-appropriate, often award-winning, books. Parents are encouraged to research any unfamiliar books to be sure they are appropriate for their learner. The chosen books may have tense moments, unkind behavior, battle scenes, or mention of death. But each of these elements is presented and will be treated in an age-appropriate way. Please feel free to communicate any concerns with me. I'm always happy to answer any questions or address any concerns.
Supply List
* A copy of each book (print or audio)
    "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by CS Lewis 
    "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster 
    "Ben and Me" by Robert Lawson 
    "Anne of Green Gables" by LM Montgomery
* A notebook or folder to keep assignments and worksheets
* Pencil and paper for jotting notes or writing important thoughts
* Occasional simple craft materials might be needed (colored pencils, markers, etc) These will be noted in class and in the classroom the week before they are needed.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined July, 2020
5.0
356reviews
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Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Bob Jones University
BS Degree in English Education, 30+ years teaching experience for all ages from preschool to adult, former homeschool mom and loving Nana

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Live Group Course
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$30

weekly or $350 for 24 classes
2x per week, 12 weeks
50 min

Completed by 22 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-11
4-12 learners per class

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