Level 4 Language Arts Course Set

Combined Subjects for the Mind and the Heart

Help your child receive a rich, high-quality language arts education with this primarily self-directed course in an easy, open-and-go format. Average lessons take less than 40 minutes per day, with written work balanced by a small amount of carefully selected online activities. The course includes 120 lessons divided into six units, each featuring two project lessons (such as recipes, art projects, or games) and a unit-end assessment.

This all-in-one course beautifully weaves together spelling, writing, reading, literature, poetry, grammar, vocabulary, art instruction, art history and appreciation, and geography—saving precious time while adding depth and meaning to learning.

These language arts courses have become some of the most widely used homeschool language arts programs in the world because they are not only academically robust and effective, but also filled with beauty and goodness. They help children grow in wonder, creativity, gratitude, and strong moral character.

Literature and Reading

Students read high-value, integrated books while learning key literary principles, practicing vocabulary, and developing skills to analyze and appreciate great literature. Children also listen to Jenny Phillips guide them through engaging book discussions. The course also incorporates powerful reading comprehension activities, along with exercises designed to improve reading fluency and expand vocabulary.

Writing

Our robust writing instruction helps children build a solid foundation, developing them into lifelong, confident writers. The program emphasizes meeting children at their academic and interest level and helping them truly enjoy writing.

Through step-by-step instruction, students practice writing at the sentence and paragraph levels before gradually building up to full essays. Along the way, children learn the structure of strong writing, how to use beautiful language, and how to express ideas clearly and concisely.  Piloting families especially loved the course’s special sections, including Gratitude Journals, Sentences That Shine, Powerful Paragraphs, Stories That Sparkle, Easy-Peasy Pre-Writing, Mini Models, and Precious Poetry.

Students also learn essential writing principles, including how to craft attention-grabbing openings and strong concluding sentences, use effective prewriting strategies, understand the parts of an essay, incorporate transitions, vary sentence beginnings, write dialogue, choose vivid verbs, and much more.

Spelling

At the end of each lesson, children are directed to complete one or more sessions of Simply Spelling, a highly effective, self-directed online program designed for Grades 4–8. The program uses nature-based themes to help students practice spelling rules and principles, homophones, and commonly confused words. This groundbreaking program—available completely free—has demonstrably improved the spelling skills of students in our pilot program. Its innovative, customized system adapts to each student, ensuring they practice the skills they need most.

Grammar

One of the hallmarks of our language arts courses is our robust and effective grammar instruction, woven throughout the course’s 120 lessons in the gorgeous, full-color course Books 1 and 2. Designed in engaging ways, grammar is integrated with the geography, literature, and art studied in each unit, with regular reviews to reinforce learning. Optional videos cover major grammar concepts for students who prefer video-based learning or who need additional support after reading about the concept in the lesson. Children also practice fun and effective online grammar flashcards. Songs accompany some grammar concepts to help retention.

Geography and Art

Art and geography are integrated with the unit's themes. Children learn about inspiring artists, learn to evaluate and appreciate art, receive art instruction and practice with watercolor projects, study geography principles, explore geographical locations, practice reading comprehension principles after reading about geography, and use selective online interactive elements to explore geography and art, including online geography cards and art discussions.