Bridge Valley

In the past two decades, language arts instruction nationally has been shaped by significant research about how children learn to use and then refine their use of language. First, there has been increasing emphasis on integrating all the language arts -- reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking -- and using those language skills in the completion of meaningful tasks with a specific audience and purpose. After all, real world communication tasks do not separate speaking, reading, listening, thinking, and writing skills. Second, effective instruction in the key area of writing includes attention not only to the finished product but also to the actual processes that writers use planning, drafting, hearing response, revising for improved meaning, editing for correctness, and publishing for real audiences. Also, there is recognition that the teaching of language skills such as spelling, mechanics, usage, and grammar is most effective in the context of real reading and writing tasks, rather than in isolation. Finally, there is a growing use of technology as a tool for learning and refining language arts skills. All these national trends have impacted our Central Bucks elementary language arts program.