Language Arts Sitemap

Language Arts is essential to all learning. In fact, it is basic to all education and indeed, to all of life. It is a mysterious tool given to us by God to use for His glory, to give Him praise and honour, and to communicate with those in the world.

It is complex in its fullness, yet we learn it from our mother’s breast, and regurgitate complicated sentence structures and gain enormous vocabulary, within a short time and without pain.


We need to have a firm grasp on all the Language Arts skills in order to communicate orally and in a written form. It includes Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. Writing can further be broken down into Spelling, Handwriting and Formal Grammar.

Reading.

We teach our children to read so they may enjoy literature, read widely, read for pleasure and research. We teach reading so we may grow in knowledge and understanding; so we may learn from others who have walked before us; to understand our Maker and to search out His truths in Scriptures; to help us grow in wisdom.

• Ways to Teach Reading
• Reading Skills
• Language Arts Skill, Method and Resources Chart
• Curriculum Recommendations
• Free Homeschooling Resources for Language Arts
• Dolch Sight Words

Listening.

We teach our children to listen so that they may develop the skill of communication. Why does the Bible teach us to be “quick to listen and slow to speak”?- because listening is not natural to us, but so very important. By listening well, we can better understand what is being said; We can profit from someone else’s knowledge; We can gain understanding; We can learn to be careful listeners and be discerning.

• Ways to Teach Listening
• Listening Skills
• Language Arts Skill, Method and Resources Chart
• Curriculum Recommendations
• Free Homeschooling Resources for Language Arts

Speaking.

In speaking, we are engaging with others around us. In speaking, we bring our praise, honour, needs and requests to God. We use speech to clarify our thoughts; to persuade; to encourage; to debate; to give answers for our views and beliefs; to clearly expound what we believe and have come to know; to question; to call others to account- to interact.

• Ways to Teach Speaking
• Speaking Skills
• Language Arts Skill, Method and Resources Chart
• Curriculum Recommendations
• Free Homeschooling Resources for Language Arts

Writing

Writing is the vehicle which God used to bring His Words to our ears. It is also the way in which we can interact with others- near and far. The world has become so close through the internet, and to avoid mis-understanding, we must write clearly; We must be able to persuade; to encourage; to respond to news and editorials; to critically analyse information; to add information; to lead and guide others.

• Ways to Teach Writing
• Writing Skills
• Language Arts Skill, Method and Resources Chart
• Writing Curriculum
• Teaching Writing: Structure and Style from IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) Click Here to add your review of this curriculum.
• Free Homeschooling Resources for Language Arts
• Make your own Word Search Puzzle here.
• Crossword Puzzle Generator



• Modeling the Classics: Language Arts Lesson Plans from The Hobbit.
• Design Your Homeschool Writing Curriculum
• Publish your child's writing here.
• Grammar Songs - our favourite way to memorize definitions!

Since these skills are basic to life in the world, to understanding, to communication, I believe that learning the skills of language arts should be foremost in all our education. It is great to have the ability to explore many facets of learning and to be useful with our hands, but I believe that our focus must be firstly on these language arts skills. This is why I learn toward a Classical Approach to Education, for classical education focuses on the written and spoken word. We need to understand our own language, use it, develop it, write it and speak it so that we can communicate and interact in a meaningful, thought-provoking, enjoyable way with others.

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