Adventures in Language II

Authors: Terry Dodds, Fay Goodfellow, Dawn Dodds

Adventures in Language II is the second level of a specially-designed, highly motivating grammar, usage, and written expression program for students from Grades 2 through Grade 5. Adventures in Language II may also be appropriate for some special-education students to help them acquire basic language skills.

Confidence and fluency develop through Direct Instruction lessons. Several different games are played: Catch the Teacher Making a Mistake, Sentence Detectives, Climb to the Top, and The Synonyms and Antonyms Game. These games motivate students to practice the use of correct grammar and word usage skills in a fun-filled format. They also provide practice for common test-taking skills. Students acquire important basic skills that enable them to be effective speakers and reflective writers.

Building Vocabulary and Developing Core Knowledge

E.D. Hirsch, Jr. made it clear in his book Cultural Literacy that young learners need to have adequate background knowledge to be successful academically. The topics found in the "Picture It" activity for each lesson provide Direct Instruction students with exposure to expository text, while developing their listening comprehension, vocabulary, and store of factual information. "Picture It" activities cover a range of knowledge in history, fine arts, science, and social studies.

Using the Six-Trait Writing Approach to Develop and Evaluate Writing

Adventures in Language II actively engages students in the steps of the writing process. Students apply basic sentence and paragraph-writing skills they learn in this sequential language program to story and expository writing. The students participate in evaluating class cooperative-writing projects, and their own writing, by identifying and analyzing six things to think about if they want to write a good paragraph or story. The six traits are defined and practiced under teacher guidance, and in "student-friendly" language. This enables them to evaluate written expression for content, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, and conventions. The Six Traits become a habit as the students develop as writers.