A Day in the Life of a English & Language Arts Teacher Back to Top

Overview

English and language arts are two of the most basic and widely taught subjects in United States schools. The American National Council of Teachers of English separates English language arts into five categories: reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing. From an early age, students are instructed in reading, writing, and a linguistic grasp of English, a basic building block for good academic and professional skills.

Elementary and Middle School

In elementary school, language arts classes focus on basic reading, writing, and linguistic/communication skills. Periods of silent sustained reading, cursive writing, syntax, thematic writing, and vocabulary are all major focal points of elementary English and language arts lessons. Children are expected to develop good reading and writing skills at an early age. In middle school, English and language arts curricula evolve and expand to include more complicated reading comprehension, such as fiction, poetry, and essay reading. In addition, grammar and semantics become a focal point of teaching and students begin to foster writing skills that encompass poetry, expository writing, and creative writing. Students in middle school are expected to expand vocabularies and develop a mature grasp of the five categories of language arts.

High School or Secondary School

High school students take mandatory English classes in which they are expected to foster analytic skills. The class generally reads a novel, essay, or other form of literature, and is asked to analyze and dissect it and be able to compare, contrast, and discuss the thematic and plot elements of the piece. Students must have developed good writing skills in order to make an argument based on this analysis, generally in essay or research paper form. This writing can be creative, expository, or persuasive in nature. High school English is a comprehensive study, combining the five skills of language arts in order to understand literature and the value of language. Teachers of English in high school will have a Bachelor’s degree, often in a related field, while elementary school teachers generally do not specialize, but rather teach language arts as part of a more general and diverse curriculum.

Teacher Career Resources & Advice Back to Top

English & Language Arts Teacher Jobs Back to Top

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