This document is the official guide for teaching English Language Arts in the elementary schools of Canada's Northwest Territories. It reflects a student-centered, process-oriented, integrated and culture-based approach. It emphasizes teaching language (whether it be English or aboriginal) in meaningful, interactive contexts and evaluating students on the basis of individual growth and development. The curriculum is designed to encourage the development of programs that broaden students' language range, provide opportunities for students to use new features of language in a variety of contexts, and above all, encourage students to be independent and confident language users. The curriculum identifies major understandings to be developed during the elementary years, but does not stipulate a sequence for their development. The guide's seven major sections are as follows: (1) Foundations; (2) The Approach; (3) The Curriculum; (4) In the Classroom; (5) Evaluation; (6) Implementation; and (7) Reference Material. A 17-item bibliography, a professional reading list containing 43 references, and a glossary of language terms conclude the document. (SR)