The language arts program in the mixed grade resource room classrooms addresses several different language-based areas. It includes instruction in phonemic awareness and spelling using the Orton-Gillingham approach, which incorporates multi-sensory techniques and strategies. Writing is taught using a combination of the Empowering Writers program, Orton-Gillingham Approach, and teacher-made materials. Elements of both narrative and expository writing are taught in grades 3 and 4 with the foundations of sentence writing and paragraph writing as the focus. Students will be instructed in "what a good sentence needs" which will include parts of a sentence, parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs), and sentence expanders. Students will also learn basic paragraph structure and apply the writing process to develop simple, complete paragraphs. Reading focuses on the application of decoding skills as well as text analysis. 

 

Most students join their homeroom classes for Social Studies and Science instruction.The objectives for each unit of study are based on the NJ Learning Standards. 

 

The goal in my classroom is to provide opportunities for creative freedom as well as direct, multi-sensory instruction in all of these areas. While the focus in the LLD Language Arts classroom is on skill development, I do integrate various projects and writing from the grade level language arts curriculums.