Language Arts- Reasoning
This program is blended with our Creative Writing program, and now offered as one class.
This program complements our Literary Analysis class.
This program is based on the belief that analytical skills, language, and good reading comprehension are essential, interdependent skills. Language-based reasoning activities and brief writing exercises are interwoven to provide students with opportunities to practice and demonstrate their developing language and reasoning abilities.
Curriculum Focus: Students work on four essential language and reasoning skills. Students also focus on the nuances of the language which are commonly ignored, for example, how does the word order change the meaning of a sentence? [John will take Anika to the zoo only. Only John will take Anika to the zoo. John will take only Anika to the zoo. John will take Anika to the only zoo].
Story-writing, essays and grammar are not the focus of this class. Creative-writing/grammar begins in 3rd grade, and is offered on Saturdays as a separate program.
What does this word mean? Students complete a variety of language and reasoning tasks, from practical exercises in following directions to activities in understanding definitions, synonyms, antonyms, analogies, classification and categorization, and words in context.
Does the sentence express a complete thought? The importance of relationships between sentence parts is taught and reinforced with exercises in cause and effect, chronology, comparison, main thought, word order, and other types of relationships within sentences.
How does a writer know when to start a new paragraph? How can a writer tell what ideas should go in one paragraph and what ideas should go in another? In these units, students will learn to recognize the characteristics of the well written paragraph. Students learn the importance of the main idea and unity of the paragraph. Through exercises they understand the role of the topic sentence, example sentences, and signal words. For practice, students will analyze the structure and meaning of several paragraphs and will write structured and meaningful paragraphs of their own. You can view the student sample works below.
Logic & Reasoning Skills- Students develop sophisticated language skills through analytical and reasoning exercises. Students learn to discriminate between cause and effect, fact and opinion, and relevant and irrelevant information. Previous experience with word, sentence, and paragraph meaning helps students to apply their reasoning skills in order to analyze and draw inferences from written and oral language. The challenge exercises incorporate syllogisms, deductive reasoning exercises, and comprehension passages thus allowing students to practice effective problem-solving skills.
Story-writing, essays and grammar are not the focus of this class. Creative-writing/grammar begins in 3rd grade, and is offered on Saturdays as a separate program.
What does this word mean? Students complete a variety of language and reasoning tasks, from practical exercises in following directions to activities in understanding definitions, synonyms, antonyms, analogies, classification and categorization, and words in context.
Does the sentence express a complete thought? The importance of relationships between sentence parts is taught and reinforced with exercises in cause and effect, chronology, comparison, main thought, word order, and other types of relationships within sentences.
How does a writer know when to start a new paragraph? How can a writer tell what ideas should go in one paragraph and what ideas should go in another? In these units, students will learn to recognize the characteristics of the well written paragraph. Students learn the importance of the main idea and unity of the paragraph. Through exercises they understand the role of the topic sentence, example sentences, and signal words. For practice, students will analyze the structure and meaning of several paragraphs and will write structured and meaningful paragraphs of their own. You can view the student sample works below.
Logic & Reasoning Skills- Students develop sophisticated language skills through analytical and reasoning exercises. Students learn to discriminate between cause and effect, fact and opinion, and relevant and irrelevant information. Previous experience with word, sentence, and paragraph meaning helps students to apply their reasoning skills in order to analyze and draw inferences from written and oral language. The challenge exercises incorporate syllogisms, deductive reasoning exercises, and comprehension passages thus allowing students to practice effective problem-solving skills.
STUDENT WORK SAMPLES
| signal_words.pdf |
| to_paragraphs.pdf |
| lockdown_and_fiction_book-_student_responses.pdf |
Program offered to Grades: 1, 2, 3, 4
Program Location: Virtual Live
Program Fee: Please contact us for details
Program Location: Virtual Live
Program Fee: Please contact us for details