Language Arts Instructional Components for Grades 3-6

As students move through the elementary years, their language arts instruction shifts from foundational skill-building to refining and expanding their literacy abilities. While all-in-one programs feel easier to manage, I find that they really do not meet most students’ language arts needs in the upper elementary years. I know this can feel really overwhelming — I’ve felt it myself and seen it in clients. You ask yourself questions like, “What do I need to teach?” and “What resources or programs are available?” If you’re like me, you see the plethora of resources and approaches shared on social media and just shut down. So, I am here to break it down for you!

The following recommendations are based on my personal and professional experience (as a homeschool mom of a 10 and 8 year old AND as someone with a background in literacy development.

Literature

Once students have completed a foundational reading program (think All About Reading, Pinwheels, Logic of English, etc.), reading instruction should shift to literature studies. This transition—moving from learning to read to reading to learn—is a significant milestone. At this stage:

Literature guides provide a structured analysis and help guide instruction. There are a variety available, but our current favorites are those by Novel Ties. For more ideas, check out this YouTube video by Rainbow Resource.
Your child should still work with you on literature studies. Even if they are fluent readers, it’s still good for them to read aloud to you. For upper elementary students, aim to work with your child for 20 min/day. This time is part instructional (using your literature guide) and part of them reading to you. I typically review the previous reading with my child, have them read to me for about 10 minutes, and then send them off to independently complete their reading assignment and any notebook/literature journal work they have. For more on our approach, check out this post)
Consider adding in book clubs with peers to further develop literature conversations and comprehension (through your community, library, or even online like Outschool
Check out my literature highlight on Instagram for more details.

Writing

All students benefit from systematic and explicit writing instruction. Writing should be a daily practice integrated across content areas. Key writing principles include:

Sentence-level writing first – students need a strong foundation before moving to paragraphs.
Integration across subjects – writing should not just be for language arts but should also be embedded in history, science, and other subjects.
Check out my post, A Week of Writing in Our Homeschool, for a more detailed breakdown of what this looks like in our homeschool.

For a deeper dive into effective writing instruction, check out my Writing Guide.

Spelling

Even in upper elementary, many students still need explicit spelling instruction. Strong spelling skills directly support reading and writing development. Spelling instruction should be:

For more on spelling, check out my post on spelling routines and my spelling highlight on Instagram.

If you're unsure what spelling skills your child needs, my Literacy Assessments Guide can help. And for struggling spellers, my Spelling Instruction Guide provides targeted strategies.

Word Study

As students grow, word study becomes more critical than phonics alone. Word study is an instructional approach that involves teaching and reflecting on meaningful parts of words. Morphemes are the smallest meaningful units of language. Knowing morphemes enhances reading comprehension, word recognition, vocabulary, and spelling. Students should learn about:

In the younger elementary years, teaching word study means teaching things like compound words, inflectional endings (-ed, -s, -es, -ing, etc.), and basic prefixes and suffixes. As students get older, they start diving more into word roots.
There are a variety of word study methods and activities ranging from a Structured Word Inquiry approach to word study curricula like Megawords, Morpheme Magic, Word Roots, and more. I share various word study methods and resources in my word study highlight on Instagram and in this reel.

Grammar

Students learn grammar best when it is connected to their writing. Research shows that explicit, systematic teaching of isolated grammar rules (think diagramming sentences or completing grammar worksheets) is ineffective. Instead, grammar instruction should prioritize function—understanding how parts of speech and sentence structures work within writing.

Effective grammar instruction includes not only understanding parts of speech and mechanics but, more importantly, how they work to enhance our writing through activities like sentence combining, sentence expansion, and sentence imitation.
Many solid writing programs include integrated grammar (such as IEW with Fix it Grammar, Essentials in Writing, and Write by Number). Additional resources include The Writing Revolution, The Writing Rope, Sentence Composing for Elementary School or Middle School, and Patterns of Power Grades 1-5) or Grades 6-8.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary instruction should be explicit and embedded in literature and content studies. Isolated vocabulary work (like workbooks or drills) has minimal impact, but teaching words in context makes them stick. A strong vocabulary program includes:

Intentional word selection for direct instruction
Teaching strategies for tackling unknown words
Exposure to a wide variety of reading materials across content areas

Check out this post by Reading Rockets for vocabulary instruction strategies.

Handwriting, Typing, & Word Processing

Handwriting instruction in the early years is essential, and while the importance of cursive is debated, it does offer benefits. By the later elementary years, students also need to develop typing and word processing skills. A well-rounded language arts program includes: