Reading, speaking and writing skills are taught through a variety of strategies. Our teachers use guided reading, writing and reading workshops, oral and written projects and presentations, author studies, and studies of age-appropriate classic and contemporary literature, as well as specific skill instruction in handwriting, spelling, vocabulary and phonics.

In the upper grades, students read a wide variety of genres including drama, short story, poetry, memoir, historical fiction and biography. Emphasis is placed on developing different writing styles through purposeful and meaningful assignments, which include research and reports. Many types of writing are taught, including expository, descriptive, persuasive, cause and effect, book reviews and elements of the short story.