Course Description
The Grade 5 ELA program focuses on developing comprehensive academic language skills, enabling students to use English as a tool for analysis, reasoning, and clearly presenting their viewpoints. Students are exposed to distinctive text genres such as biographies, science fiction, folktales, poetry, informational texts, and scientific reports—allowing them to strengthen academic reading skills such as evaluating arguments, identifying the author’s purpose, synthesizing information, and comparing texts.
In writing, students are guided to produce more complex text types such as argumentative essays, research reports, literary responses, and summaries, with well-structured organization and clear evidence. Speaking and listening skills are reinforced through academic language projects including guided discussions, debates, and storytelling—helping students present ideas coherently and interact effectively in academic settings.
Through cross-disciplinary content (science – social studies – literature), the program not only equips students with language skills but also develops academic thinking and independent learning abilities, preparing them for entry into American middle school.
Learning Content
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Genres
Students engage with a variety of academically rigorous genres typical of U.S. curricula, including biographies, science fiction, folktales, poetry, drama, scientific articles, informational texts, and opinion essays. By analyzing these texts, students learn to identify genre structures, author’s purposes, tone, and perspective. Understanding these features equips them with flexible reading strategies and readiness to apply knowledge across disciplines and advanced writing tasks. -
Reading Strategies
Students practice advanced reading strategies such as analyzing cause and effect, drawing conclusions, identifying author’s purpose and viewpoint, comparing and contrasting across texts, and synthesizing information from multiple sources. Mastery of these strategies enables students to read quickly, deeply, and independently—asking critical questions, assessing information validity, and forming strong critical thinking skills essential for middle school success. -
Oral Language Projects
Speaking activities include presentations, interviews, storytelling, debates, and personal opinion sharing. Students learn to organize thoughts, use academic language, listen actively, and respond respectfully and effectively to others. These projects foster academic communication skills in English—an essential foundation for learning and working in international environments. -
Writing Projects
Writing tasks include opinion essays, research reports, literary responses, descriptive writing, narratives, and summaries. Students learn to create outlines, write coherent paragraphs, use specific evidence, and logically structure ideas. Consistent practice develops a clear and precise academic writing style, enabling students to express both knowledge and personal viewpoints effectively in academic and real-life contexts.
Learning Methodology
The Grade 5 ELA program—marking the transition to middle school—applies integrated teaching methods focusing on developing academic thinking and the ability to use English in cross-disciplinary contexts. Lessons follow a structured cycle: guided instruction → supported practice → independent application, combined with diverse activities such as group discussions, text analysis, writing projects, oral presentations, and drama performances.
Students are expected to master essential skills such as critical thinking, coherent idea organization, and effective communication through guided teacher sessions or community discussion topics. They are encouraged to approach complex texts independently, plan their writing projects, and express ideas accurately with supporting evidence. These skills not only help students complete elementary school successfully but also build a solid foundation for confident academic learning and communication in middle school.
Lessons:
