Middle School English Program

Literature serves diverse purposes ranging from academic growth to personal development. The middle school English program includes a variety of pieces of literature, offering students opportunities to grow in knowledge and respond to an array of selections. Students encounter new places, different time-periods, and an assortment of people, male and female, representing the rich mosaic of characters and their personalities.

In addition, our English textbook “Voyages” will explore the elements and characteristics of effective writing while paralleling grammar. The structure of writing and grammar includes ideas, organization, voice, word-choice, sentence fluency, and the eight parts of speech.

My goals in this program are to:  Foster students’ lifelong habits of reading and writing, encourage students to gain insights into themselves and others  Help students develop skills in responding to varied forms of literature  Support student language growth  Teach students literary forms and conventions as a means of appreciating and reacting to literature

In English class, students are assessed in a myriad of ways. Some forms of evaluation may include: quizzes, tests, classroom discussions, daily homework, creative writing assignments, note-taking, follow-up study guide questions, visual illustrations, collaborative activities, fact finding, and culminating projects.

Middle school students are required to give four book-talks (novel of choice). A book-talk is an oral recommendation (format provided by Ms. Lass), presented to the class by middle school students each quarter.

The chapter novels for sixth grade are: “The Cay”, “True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle”, “Bridge to Terabithia”, and “Hatchet”. These novels are historical fiction and realistic fiction that touch on issues such as friendship, prejudice, survival, self-worth, maturing, loss and grief, and adventure. In the mix we may also read short stories, poetry, children’s books, and pieces of writing the students compose.

Seventh grade novels: “Johnny Tremain”, “Tangerine”, and “Call of the Wild”. Issues students explore are forgiveness, responsibility, sacrifice, dignity, self-discipline, compassion, and courage.

By reading the following novels, the eighth grade will discuss and develop awareness of issues dealing with justice, tolerance, society versus the individual, and hope: “Z for Zachariah”, “The Hobbit”, “The Giver”, and “To Kill a Mockingbird”.

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