Using a variety of manipulatives, graphs, and other fun aids, students will learn the parts of speech and how to use them to write, proof, and edit strong sentences. They will practice using reference tools (dictionary and thesaurus) to help them improve their sentences. An oral report (assigned as homework) will be presented in class, along with a project, allowing students to engage in public speaking and learn how to be respectful members of an audience. Fictional and fact-based literature, followed up with text-dependent questions, will be discussed to develop listening and critical thinking skills. Woven into each class will be opportunities to learn important “life skills” such as following oral and written directions, demonstrating time management skills, and practicing organizational techniques. Students enrolled in the class must have a firm grip of the names and letter sounds of the alphabet and be able to write those letters, their name, and several high-frequency words.