Language Arts and Reading
ENGLISH 6
Course No. 1109 - 36 weeks course
English 6 requires active participation and collaboration in classroom work and discussions. Students will begin the study of word origins and continue vocabulary development. Reading comprehension will be emphasized by the comparison of fiction and nonfiction texts. In fiction texts, students will identify elements of narrative structure including theme and analyze figurative language. With nonfiction texts, students will summarize and draw inferences using textual evidence. Students will plan, draft, revise, and edit writing in a variety of forms with an emphasis on narrative and reflective writing. Students will be introduced to writing thesis statements in multiparagraph writing. They will be expected to write with elaboration, unity, and have control of sentence formation, usage, and mechanics. Research skills will include locating, evaluating ,and selecting appropriate resources for presentations and research products.
ADVANCED ENGLISH 6
Course No. 1109A - 36 weeks course
Advanced English 6 is designed for the student who is motivated to work at an accelerated pace with assignments beyond the average level. This course uses an expanded literature-based curriculum that integrates reading, writing, oral communication, and research. Students are accountable for using grammar, spelling, and vocabulary correctly in all forms of communication on an analytical level.
ENGLISH 7
Course No. 1110 - 36 weeks course
English 7 requires active participation and collaboration in classroom work and discussions. The study of word orgins and roots will continue with connotations. There will be continued emphasis on reading comprehension through comparing fiction and nonfiction texts. In fiction texts, students will identify elements of a variety of genres, with a focus on authors' styles. For nonfiction texts, students will identify the source, point-of-view, and purpose of the texts. In addition, they will concentrate on the areas of composing, written expression, and usage/mechanics in developing narrative, expository and persuasive writings, with a focus on expository and persuasive pieces. Students will study media message techniques and apply research techniques to gather, organize and communicate information.
ADVANCED ENGLISH 7
Course No. 1110A - 36 weeks course
In their writing, students will emphasize audience and purpose; develop their own personal styles; and incorporate complexity, depth, and creativity. Through the study of literature, students will explore universal themes, the interconnection of ideas, and many points of view. Also, the appreciation, interpretation, and modeling of literary techniques will promote the development of students' understanding and production of new ideas. These new ideas will be supplemented with the process of research that incorporates organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills as well as the investigation and evaluation of ideas and source materials. Students are expected to exercise independent and complex thinking, reading, writing, and learning skills through self-initiated and teacher-directed areas of study.
ENGLISH 8
Course No. 1120 - 36 weeks course
English 8 requires active participation and collaboration in classroom work and discussions. The study of word orgins, roots, connotations, and denotations will continue. Reading comprehension will be emphasized through the comparision of fiction and nonfiction texts. In fiction texts, students will focus on the development of themes and compare/contrast authors' styles. Nonfiction reading will increase, and students will analyze authors' qualifications, point-of-view, and style. Students will plan, draft, revise, and edit writing in a variety of forms with an emphasis on expository and persuasive writing. Students will write persuasively, using claims, evidence, and counterclaims to support a position to fit the audience and purpose. Students will be expected to have even greater control of the conventions of writing. Research and presentation techniques will also be an area of focus.
ADVANCED ENGLISH 8
Course No. 1120A - 36 weeks course
Advanced English 8 emphasizes skill development in writing, vocabulary, oral communication, literature, and critical thinking. In addition to application of the writing process, students will be actively involved in the selection, planning, organization, refinement, and evaluation of various forms of written and oral expression. Students will direct writing toward specific audiences and purposes. To enhance clarity of communication, students will manipulate word choice and sentence structure, and employ correct structure. Also, students will be exposed to a broad range of editing and revision strategies. Students will develop a vocabulary, which reflects a more complex and sophisticated thinking. Students will analyze various literary genres to identify theme and literary elements, recognize character motivation, discern author’s purpose and style, articulate possible universal concepts, and effectively present a synthesized critical response.
READING WORKSHOP
Course No. 1180_6/7/8 - course length varies
Reading Workshop is an assigned elective class during the school day where students can receive extra assistance in reading, writing, and grammar. Selected students have the unique opportunity to improve their literacy skills in targeted, systematic, data-driven small groups outside of the exceptional education setting.
Students are selected for the workshop based on data from SOLs and other school assessments that provide reading levels and other data that allow for individualized skills-based instruction. The class uses students' individual growth and achievement as the grading scale, with the hope that students progress to reading closer to their grade level in 18 weeks.
The main goals of the Reading Workshop are:to build students’ literacy skills, create confident students, give students a sense of independence and ownership of their learning, and help students foster a love of reading.