Mrs. Ziniewicz's Language Arts

The students are introduced to the "Courage" unit by reading the inspiring poem, "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" by Maya Angelou. They respond to the reading by creating poems of their own, imitating the poet's diction, the very young child's perspective, and the method of repetition the poet uses, to express their own childhood fears and ways of overcoming them.

The nonfiction selection for this unit is the story of George Washington Carver, a symbol of courage as he bravely sought an education against all odds. The story begins with George as a small child, walking down a lonely road, approaching a world of the unknown.

After reading this inspiring story, the students complete a character analysis of George Washington Carver. They learn to apply the five methods of characterization which an author uses to develop a central character in a story.

Fiction selections for this unit are "The Whistling Boy" by Ruth Ainsworth and "Zlateh the Goat" by Isaac Bashevis Singer. The students learn to analyze the main conflict in these short stories and to draw inferences, conclusions, and generalizations about the texts. They are required to write brief responses which test their ability to identify important elements in the plot.

As students complete their weekly Home Reading Journals, they read novels having the theme of courage, and share with the class what they read.