Because a command of the English language is so vital to all other areas of learning, English instruction receives considerable time and attention at Madison Country Day School.  The Language Arts curriculum includes reading, writing, spelling, grammar, handwriting, speaking, rhyming, and memorization.  Reading is taught both as a basic skill and as a means to develop the ability to write and speak well.  Teachers use a strong and systematic phonics program which incorporates classic examples of great children's literature, poetry, history and tall tales.  Classic literature promotes the development of vocabulary, models excellent writing skills and exposes children to important ideas.  Madison Country Day School strives to have its students become independent, fluent, committed readers and writers and to increase their range and quality of comprehension.  The School's goal is that each Madison Country Day School student will be capable of "reading to learn" by the end of second grade.  Children are taught to write for a range of purposes including letters and journals, essays and reports, stories and poems.  They learn to write clearly, accurately, and appropriately for the audience and purpose. Students learn thoughtful and critical reading skills and complete frequent writing projects on a routine basis.  In fact, writing pervades the entire Madison Country Day School curriculum.  Most assignments, including many in mathematics and science, require the students to exercise and further develop their writing skills.

Program Goals

• To listen intently
• To form all letters of the alphabet correctly
• To learn explicit phonics as the path to advanced reading skills
• To write from dictation
• To speak comfortably in front of the class and larger groups
• To follow explicit oral directions as they are given
• To love quality literature and to appreciate authorship
• To develop comprehensive and analytical thinking skills
• To spell by using a system of encoding rather than sight alone
• To write well in a variety of styles

Program Curriculum
As adapted and extended by the Riggs Institute, the Orton-based Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking unifies and teaches all of the language skills in the following sequence in a multi-sensory methodology beginning with intensive explicit phonics: seeing, listening, speaking, manuscript handwriting (with cursive beginning in second grade), spelling, syllabication, writing composition, reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and basic grammar.  Writing skills are further developed through the Webster Writing Program.  Beginning in the first grade, students learn: note making and summarizing from notes, summarizing narrative stories and story sequencing, summarized references (without copying from the encyclopedia), library research using multiple references, creative writing, letter writing, writing from pictures, formal essays and critique formats.

Program Organization
In addition to the Riggs' Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking and Webster Writing programs, all students beginning in first grade work on journal writing, public speaking, and poetry. Students are exposed to both classic and modern literature beginning in Kindergarten through both teacher read-alouds and eventually student read sections.  

Grade 1
Teachers emphasize learning and writing the sounds associated with the 71 phonograms, the building blocks of the English language. Students regularly utilize these skills to aid in reading, writing and spelling. Letter formation and spacing, grammar skills (including parts of speech), punctuation, capitalization, compound words and contractions are introduced and practiced. The students work on writing different kinds of sentences (declarative, interrogative, exclamatory and imperative) in daily writing assignments and journal entries. They study descriptive and creative writing and write paragraphs. Dictionary and library use are introduced. Students also create a poetry book of their own writing. The first-grade students listen to classic stories, including fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, Winnie the Pooh, The Velveteen Rabbit, Pinnochio, and The Wizard of Oz. Students also enjoy other works of literature through reading assignments, which include The Adventures of Peter Cottontail, Snow White and Other Fairy Tales.

Grade 2
Students in grade two review the sounds associated with the 71 phonograms, the building blocks of the English language. Teachers emphasize reading, writing and manuscript and cursive letter formation. Grammar skills, including parts of speech, punctuation, capitalization, compound words and contractions, are practiced. The students also study antonyms and synonyms, capital letters and their uses, common and proper nouns, plurals, verbs, adjectives and various homonyms. The students work on writing different kinds of sentences (declarative, interrogative, exclamatory and imperative) in daily writing assignments and journal entries. Students practice using the dictionary and thesaurus and write their first book reports. The students listen to stories, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Comprehension and public speaking are addressed through the use of a Socratic seminar approach to literature. The second grade reads classic stories, including Charlotte's Web, Sarah Plain and Tall, The Cricket in Times Square, and My Father's Dragon.

Grade 3
Students keep a daily journal and write their own stories and key-word outlines to develop both speaking and writing skills. Literature is read and discussed in a Socratic seminar format. Much attention is given to accuracy of spelling, punctuation, sentence structure and clear expression of ideas. Teachers review the 71 phonograms, the building blocks of the English language. Teachers emphasize reading, writing and manuscript and cursive letter formation. Students also have the opportunity to appreciate other works of classic literature through daily teacher-read stories, which may include Old Yeller, Stuart Little, and Alice in Wonderland. Students enjoy other works of literature through reading assignments that include Trumpet of the Swan, Sign of the Beaver, Mr. Popper’s Penguin , A Lion to Guard Us, and Half Magic.

Grade 4
Teachers emphasize writing, grammar and punctuation, and literature and poetry studies. Students write weekly journals, stories, and essays. Much attention is given to accuracy of spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and clear expression of ideas using key-word outlines. Students study different writing styles and make oral presentations to become skilled and confident writers and public speakers. Students continue to utilize phonogram knowledge and spelling rules through regular spelling and vocabulary practice. Literature is read and discussed in a Socratic seminar format with selections including Wind in the Willows, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, Bridge to Terabithia and Number the Stars.