English Language Arts
Grade
Teachers
5
Roman Pylat
Cindy Dubrovsky
The English Language Arts programme in Grade 5 is designed to develop the following
MELS competencies:
Competency 1
Competency 2
Competency 3
Competency 4
To read and listen to literary, popular and information-based texts
To write self-expressive, narrative and information-based texts
To represent literacy in different media
To use language to communicate and learn
These competencies will appear on the report card.
Course Description
In Grade 5, the students will strengthen and develop their language skills through:
reading appropriate novels; discussion of the basic elements of the novel; vocabulary enrichment
activities; poetry appreciation; critical thinking activities; preparation of class speeches; process
writing focusing on personal, report, narrative, and expository writing. The following objectives
will be covered:
Reading
Demonstrates competence in reading fluency, oral expression, and strategies of the
reading process.
Demonstrates competence in literal comprehension, inferencing, and critical response to
literature.
Demonstrates competence in general skills and strategies for reading a variety of literary
texts: e.g.: folktales and fairy tales, realistic fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery,
adventure.
Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies for reading a variety of
informational texts.
Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies for reading and viewing a
variety of mutimedia texts.
Writing
Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the writing process: prewriting, drafting and revising, editing and publishing, self-evaluation, sense of audience
and purpose.
Demonstrates a sense of text structure, including short fiction and informational essays.
Demonstrates competence in the use of grammatical and mechanical conventions in
written compositions: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, punctuation, and capitalization.
Demonstrates competence in gathering and using information for research purposes. Uses
dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, and internet.
Media
Demonstrates competence in responding to various media texts (print, visuals, logos,
signs, and images).
Communication Skills
Demonstrates competence in speaking and listening as tools for learning.
Homework
Students will read for twenty to thirty minutes every night.
Every student will keep a journal or response log on their personal reading or on the class
novel, responding to the literature each week.
They will respond to critical and comprehension questions during novel studies.
Every student will keep a writing notebook in which they generate ideas for his writing.
Every student will have a writing portfolio in which they collect their material that
demonstrates evidence of his progress. Writing will be done mainly in class, but the students will
be asked to do parts of the process for homework (planning, drafting, revising, editing).
They will be asked to prepare an anecdotal or expository speech and present it to the
class.
They will study a spelling list and practise grammar exercises.
Assessment and Evaluation
All aspects of the writing process will be assessed and evaluated from planning to final
drafts. Reading fluency will be monitored and evaluated by the teacher in each semester.
Comprehension questions will be evaluated through discussion and written responses. Listening
will be evaluated in all forms: directions, peer speakers, and readings.
Speaking will be evaluated in class discussions. In the final term, the prepared speech
will also be evaluated.
Periodically, students will be asked to write a self-assessment in which they will reflect
and comment on their own progress, including specific strengths and goals for improvement.
Textbooks and Resources
Novels
The Nose from Jupiter
Hatchet
Tales of the Greek Heroes
The House with a Clock in its Walls
Reading Group Novels
Texts
Writer’s Express
Scholastic Guide - Checking Your Grammar
Poetry Anthology
Workbooks
Practise Your Spelling (Activity Book 5)
Language Power (Book C)