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
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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


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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. 

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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]