The Akiva School English Language Arts Curriculum is based on the Quebec Education Program. All learning is geared towards each student achieving their personal best within three interdependent Language Arts Competencies: Reading, Writing, and Communicating.
The language Arts Program is first and foremost a literacy program grounded in real life texts and experiences. In order to provide authentic learning situations and heighten critical thinking, each competency is explored through themes and essential questions.
What makes me unique? Does art speak? What does it say? Why is it important to remember the Holocaust? How does knowing about space help us understand life on earth? These are a mere few in a long list of subject matters imparting world knowledge, and context for learning.
Competencies
Reading/Media – Becoming a reader is primarily achieved through reading, viewing and listening to a wide range of different text types. The children learn in a supportive environment that promotes risk-taking and a trial-and-error approach. Decoding, comprehending, analyzing and synthesizing text is ever present. The language of texts beyond those that rely almost exclusively on the printed word is the study of media. The children, at all grade levels, are given many opportunities to explore and become aware that all media text uses a combination of print, visuals, logos signs and images in order to create their own language. They also become critical viewers of picture books, posters, magazines, ads, commercials, and photographs deconstructing their messages and meanings. The process of decoding media text is similar to that of reading print, and therefore, understanding media strengthens the development of literacy.
Writing/Media
Throughout the cycles, the children learn to produce self expressive, narrative and information based texts. The development of ideas, content, word choice, fluency, voice, organization, conventions and presentation allows for each aspect of becoming an effective writer to be explored. The students are taught to construct various forms of media by being aware of different structures.
Communicating
Students have many opportunities to use language as a means of exploring, expressing and developing thoughts, feelings, information and imagination. The promotion of language development is paramount. Debating, interviewing, storytelling, reporting, improvising and presenting allows the children to become confident capable speakers, as well as respectful involved listeners.
