Exceptional language skills empower students to become informed, creative, active members of society. Armitage students become effective speakers and communicators. Our language arts curriculum is based on immersion in activities that develop strong writing, reading, speaking and listening skills.

Younger students often partner with older students as reading buddies. Not only does this help develop leadership skills in our older students, but also helps motivate our emerging readers.

Our students become enthusiastic, inquisitive, independent readers. They act out stories and engage in small group discussions. We provide opportunities for reading to, reading with, and reading by students, thus encouraging a love of reading.

Reading instruction combines phonics and study of literature, including classics drawn from a wide variety of cultures.

"We are a community of learners. We actively involve our students, teachers and parents in the reading process," Phyllis Fonk, 7-8th grade language arts teacher.

Writing begins the moment we hold a pencil or crayon in our hands as a child. At Armitage, students continue free writing by journaling every day - whether they write a sentence or several pages.

Students write letters to pen pals, do research reports, practice persuasive writing techniques and engage in creative writing activities.

Writing is taught as a thought process.  We work on writing, revising, and editing works as part of learning the writing process. Students learn techniques used by real authors; we often bring published authors into the classroom to discover how they practice their craft.

Report writing and research skills are introduced starting in grade one. Ideas are discussed, and stories are analyzed in literature groups.