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Kindergarten through third grade students practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills daily. They develop an appreciation for literature through a variety of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biography. Reading is approached with a combination of phonetic and whole language methods. Students practice these skills reading sequential basal texts and a selection of age and level-appropriate chapter books. Spelling lessons are incorporated focusing on decoding skills and vocabulary development. Reading and spelling groups are accelerated and are based on ability; however, they always remain flexible and fluid. With two teachers in each classroom, students receive individual and group instruction aimed to insure maximum growth while maintaining a sense of well being and accomplishment. Teachers typically implement 3-5 lesson plans simultaneously on a variety of levels. Elementary students become comfortable writing as they learn to write descriptions, stories, and reports. They practice lessons in grammar, sentence structure, paragraph writing, and creative poetry. Young students are encouraged to use writing as a tool for thinking and learning.
Literature for grades four through eight is selected with an over-arching theme that facilitates discussions of issues relevant to the character development of young people. Students read, write creative and academic papers, act out Shakespearean dramas, and study grammar and vocabulary. Our graduates report that they are often the strongest writers in their high school English classes. They frequently express that the love for literature they developed during their Nysmith language arts discussions led them to take some literature electives in college with enthusiasm and confidence.
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