In 5th Grade English Language Arts, students explore the different factors that can positively and negatively influence a community and how groups of people have fought for their rights, particularly immigration and civil rights. Students build their social-emotional skills through the core texts Seedfolks and The Breadwinner, learn about the impacts of plastic pollution in Protecting the Earth, and explore movements for equality in Young Heroes and Belonging to a Movement. In each unit, students engage in process-based writing projects connected to the core texts that develop their narrative, informational, and opinion writing skills. 

Using authentic, engaging read-aloud texts, teachers help students develop their language comprehension and address grade-level reading, writing, language, and speaking and listening standards. Over the course of 5th Grade ELA, students deepen their understanding of the world around them through thematically-aligned, knowledge-building units, embedded daily writing instruction, and frequent opportunities for in-class discussion.

After completing the 5th Grade ELA course, students will have the reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills and the relevant background knowledge to set them up for success in middle school ELA.