<p> Middle School English Program</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Seventh grade novels: “Johnny Tremain”, “Tangerine”, and “Call of the Wild”. Issues students explore are forgiveness, responsibility, sacrifice, dignity, self-discipline, compassion, and courage.</p><p>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”. </p><p>Parent ______Student______Class______</p>