Language Arts
What is Language Arts?
Language arts is the study and practice of reading, writing, and speaking English. It encompasses all aspects of language, including grammar, vocabulary, and literature. Language arts is an important subject for all students to learn, as it helps them develop communication skills that are essential for success in school and in life. Language Arts also teaches students how to read and interpret literature.
How to Learn Language Arts
Language arts isn't one subject but a bundle — reading, writing, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary — and they reinforce each other. The single highest-leverage activity is reading: wide, daily, slightly-above-level reading builds vocabulary, grammar intuition, and writing sense faster than any workbook.
Pair that reading with explicit instruction in the mechanics: phonics for young readers, then grammar and composition as they grow. Have the student write regularly and get real feedback — a paragraph a day with revision beats occasional big assignments. Keep the pieces connected rather than siloed: discuss what they read, borrow sentence structures from good authors, and treat spelling and vocabulary as tools for writing, not ends in themselves.
Language Arts Resources
Writing with Ease: Strong Fundamentals
Susan Wise Bauer's guide to teaching elementary writing through narration, copywork, and dictation—explaining the why behind each skill so parents can build their own four-year writing plan. For grades 1–4.
First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind, Level 1
A gentle, scripted introduction to grammar for young students, using memory work, copywork, narration, and picture study in short daily lessons. Designed for grades 1–2.
Easy Grammar Plus Student Workbook
Student workbook for Easy Grammar Plus by Wanda C. Phillips, using the prepositional approach to teach grammar with low-prep daily lessons and built-in review. Grades 7 and up.
Our Mother Tongue: A Guide to English Grammar
A classical, literature-rich English grammar guide that surveys the major concepts of grammar through sentence diagramming and selections from great writers and Scripture. Recommended for grades 6-9.
Evan-Moor Daily Reading Comprehension, Grade 6
Daily reading comprehension practice with increasingly complex passages building inference, analysis, and critical thinking for sixth graders.
Evan-Moor Daily Reading Comprehension, Grade 2
Daily 10-15 minute reading comprehension practice with fiction and nonfiction passages and strategy-based questions for second graders.
Scholastic 100 Words Kids Need to Read by 1st Grade
Sight word mastery workbook with engaging activities teaching the 100 most essential words for first-grade reading fluency.
Spectrum Phonics, Grade 2
Advanced phonics workbook covering vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, multisyllabic words, and reading fluency for second graders.
Scholastic Success with Reading Comprehension, Grade 1
Engaging reading comprehension workbook with fiction and nonfiction passages teaching main idea, sequence, and inference skills for first graders.
Scholastic Success with Reading Comprehension, Grade 3
Third-grade reading comprehension workbook with diverse passages building inference, cause-effect, and critical thinking skills.
Scholastic Success with Reading Comprehension, Grade 4
Fourth-grade reading comprehension workbook developing advanced inference, analysis, and text evidence skills through diverse passages.
Evan-Moor Daily Reading Comprehension, Grade 5
Daily 10-15 minute reading comprehension practice for 5th graders with 30 weeks of strategy-based lessons across diverse text types.