Language Arts
Language Arts at AoPS is designed to give students the confidence to approach new and interesting communication challenges.
Language Arts for Levels 2–5
Lower level language arts courses at AoPS Academy develop students’ foundational reading, writing, and critical thinking skills by immersing them in unique problem solving scenarios.
Note: Students who are new to AoPS Academy can receive course approvals by going through our admissions process.
Language Arts for Levels 6–12
Upper level Language Arts courses at AoPS Academy accelerate students’ core skills in persuasive, informational, and creative writing, establishing a strong foundation for future coursework.
Note: Students who are new to AoPS Academy can receive course approvals by going through our admissions process.
How We Teach Language Arts at AoPS Academy
We teach students to approach language arts with curiosity and innovation. In the process, students build the confidence to employ language with an impact, now and in the future.
Empower Student Discovery
Students are empowered to analytically explore advanced writing and linguistic concepts, enabling them to understand the “why” behind the skills they’re learning.
Foster Problem Solving Skills
Students are challenged with communication problems they’ve never seen before, encouraging them to break problems into smaller parts and build their understanding.
Engage Student Learning
While students rigorously think through language arts problems, we infuse lessons with engaging games, competitions, and simulated real-world role-playing.
Support Writing Development
We focus on the process of writing – not just the finished product – by supporting students throughout each phase of writing, from planning to publication.
Course Format
Weekly Homework
Students should expect to spend about 1–2 hours on homework every week. Homework includes assigned readings that push students to deep analysis, challenge problems that help students hone the skills they learned in class, and writing assignments in which students demonstrate their understanding.
Writing Projects
Throughout a course, students are assessed by their unit writing projects, multi-page compositions or essays that demonstrate students' mastery of the unit concepts. Instructors carefully review students' submitted writing projects and provide a score with a completed rubric that explains how well students mastered the course concepts.
Instructor Feedback
During class, the instructor provides students with ongoing support through verbal feedback on skills and projects. Further, during each unit project, students receive written feedback from their instructor on their rough and final drafts. By the end of the course, the instructor will have spent roughly 2 hours reading and leaving feedback on each student's writing.
Active Learning
Instructors guide students in an engaged classroom as students discover new concepts and try out their ideas. With an average of 12 students per class, there’s plenty of opportunity for direct interaction as students collaborate with their class and dedicated peer group.
Thorough Reporting
Students and parents can view detailed reports regarding student performance at any time throughout each course. In this report, students and parents can view scores on homework, exams, and writing projects, in addition to the instructor's feedback on the writing projects.
Course Texts
To improve their writing and communication skills, students read and critically analyze multiple texts throughout the course, exposing them to the expert moves accomplished authors use. By the end of the course, students will have read several books and distributed texts and have demonstrated a deep understanding of them.
Language Arts Summer Camps
Our two-week camps are designed to keep students engaged and sharpen their skills for the upcoming school year.
Explore Summer Camps