Middle School Curriculum Posts

The Grade 7 English course is centered on the premise that what students read and what they write are intrinsically linked. 

Students read novels, short stories, arguments, and various other excerpts exploring how talented authors illuminate themes and develop arguments and narratives through various writing techniques. Students incorporate these techniques into their own writing, be it fiction or nonfiction. Moreover, this course is designed to develop student language skills through close examination of how abstract and figurative language is integrated into writing. The specific analysis of social and cultural systems is emphasized as we examine how individuals are impacted by their surroundings and backgrounds. Students are asked to look inward as they reflect on their reading regarding the social expectations, hierarchy, and issues that may impact their current and future lives.  

The writing curriculum begins with narration, then transitions to literary analysis, which develops into argument writing focusing on claim, evidence, and analysis based on reasoning for specific audiences. In addition to reading and writing, students continue to mature their language acquisition and critical thinking through vocabulary study, speaking, discussing, listening, and actively participating in their own learning.  

Texts include:  Stargirl, Spinelli; A Single Shard, Park; The Giver, Lowry; Chains (The Seeds of America Trilogy), Anderson; The Book Thief, Zusak; The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Speare; Brotherhood, Westrick; Fever 1793, Anderson; "Flying Lessons" “The Most Dangerous Game”, Connell; “All Summer in a Day”, Bradbury; “The Dinner Party”, Gardner; “Thank You Ma’am”, Hughes; “Ex Poser”, Jennings.