Reading Tips For Home
Overview of Language Arts Curriculum
Fluency

animation of a boy flipping pages in a book animation of a girl flipping pages of a book animation of a girl flipping pages of a book animation of a boy flipping a book animation of a girl flipping pages of a book

FROM THE BES LANGUAGE ARTS DEPOT

Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Reading Specialist


Frederick County Public Schools embrace a “Balanced Literacy” program in their schools. Here at Brunswick Elementary School (BES), we use a flexible framework and a variety of instructional methods for Language Arts. Language Arts includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Our goals fall into four categories: Word Solving, Comprehension, Communication, and Fluency.

 

We strive to use a balance of “TO”, “WITH”, and “BY”: reading to students, reading with students, reading by students, writing to students, writing with students and writing by students. Our classes use a balance of literacy opportunities…..
TO------------ read aloud, demonstration writing
image of a man reading to children
WITH---------shared reading and writing, guided reading, interactive writing
BY------------ literature circles, reader’s workshop, writer’s workshop, independent reading, and independent writing.

 

COMPREHENSION

Text understanding
Meaningful connections
Constructing meaning

"Reading is the process of constructing meaning through the dynamic interaction among: the reader’s existing knowledge, the information suggested in the written language, and the context of the reading situation.” From the FCPS “A Guide To The Elementary Language Arts Essential Curriculum”

 

image of student reading with picture overhead


 

COMMUNICATION

The FCPS curriculum includes speaking and writing in the communication goals. Students write to convey a message. Writing is checked against the following standards of form, audience, topic and purpose (FATP):

Form: use the appropriate form, with all elements in place (for example: a story has a beginning, middle and end, a haiku follows a 5- 7-5 syllable pattern in three lines, a letter has five parts, etc.)

Audience: write for the appropriate audience (the tone and style changes according to the audience whether it be the President of the USA or parents, or a classmate)

Topic: write to address the topic

Purpose: write with the appropriate purpose--- to inform, persuade or express personal ideas

 
If you have questions about your child’s language arts program, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or myself, the reading specialist. -------------Karen Fitzpatrick 240-236-2917 or karen.fitzpatrick@fcps.org

Comments and suggestions are welcome, send email to webmaster [melissa.dirks@fcps.org].
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