English

The focus of the English department is to develop students’ literacy and technology skills to create active, independent, and critical thinkers. Not only does the department promote the value of literature as an end in itself but also as a tool for students to see themselves and the world, to develop their own personal and intellectual identities, and make informed and positive decisions within a global context.

Jason Hershberger is the Subject Area Leader of the English Department.



6th Grade English - Mirka Haakova

During October, 6th grade Reading and Language Arts will cover several essential questions and tasks.  Among those will be, identifying the key elements of a novel study.  Sixth graders will examine the impact of setting and answer the question of how character affects plot.  Student will work to identify the unique aspects of a novel study and prepare for working independently in literature circles.   

Students will begin a novel study of the book Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawles. 

 

Course Materials:

  • Writing notebook
  • Pens and pencils
  • Novel: Where the Red Fern Grows

 

 
6th Grade Drama - Damien Pitter

Course Description

The Grade 6 course provides an introduction to Drama, encouraging students to explore the ways they can communicate with everything other than the words they say.  We study how we communicate with our bodies, our voices, the clothes we wear and the things we carry, and even the spaces we live and work and play in.

Read more...
 
7th Grade English - Damien Pitter

Course Descritption

The course emphasizes the fundamentals of reading, writing, speaking, and listening.  Students read various literary genres, including short story, novel, and non-fiction.  Students learn to express themselves in a variety of styles with essays, personal narratives, fiction writing, and poetry.  Emphasis is placed on listening carefully and thoughtfully to the ideas of classmates.  Effective speaking skills are developed and exhibited during class discussion and project presentations.  Links with other curriculums, such as social studies, are forged when appropriate.  Students learn the value of using language effectively and responsibly.

Read more...
 
7th Grade Drama - Mirka Haakova
The Grade 7 Drama course allows students to explore the ways to communicate with their body movements and expressions.  Students will engage in role play, and also study how people communicate creatively with their voices.  Drama will allow students to investigate all of the imaginative ways that people communicate and interact with the world around us.
 
8th Grade English - Damien Pitter

Course Description

In this course, students learn the power of concise communication.  Through essay writing, poetry studies, vocabulary lessons, and novel units, students practice critical thinking and expand knowledge of literary skills.  Essay writing is a major focus.  Emphasis is placed on clear thesis statements, organization of ideas, and transitions between ideas.   Speaking skills are also practiced as students will be required to deliver an essay orally.  Students read novels and poems and watch films that lead to whole-class discussion and writing topics.  Where applicable, English projects or reading materials are connected to the 8th grade social studies curriculum.

 

Read more...
 
8th Grade ESL (Language Development) - Ellie Martinez
During the first semester in 8th. grade ESL, the concentration will be on writing and grammar. The following points will be reviewed: Punctuation and capitalization rules as well as verb agreement. We will do a unit on narrative writing which will include a review of the use of time order words and phrases and adverbs of frequency. We will be looking closely at sentence structure, specifically compound sentences and the correct use of the sentence connectors and, but, so and or. At the end of the unit the students will use a freewriting exercise they did at the beginning of the unit to write a short essay on a memorable experience in their lives.
 
8th Grade Drama - David Pover
Welcome to 8th Grade Drama
 
9th Grade English - Introduction to Literature - Jason Hershberger

9th Grade Introduction to Literature 

Textbook- Elements of Literature Third Course Holt 2003.

This course is an introductory survey of literature, including a variety of genres, cultural and international literature from ancient to modern times. The variety of literature focuses on drama, poetry, short stories, novels, and non-fiction. Students will use intensive writing as an instrument to develop critical and analytical thinking in relation to the various genres and literary types. Students will work on creative projects such as poetry, short stories, or scripts. You will write autobiographical, reflective, and expository essays. You will learn to use secondary sources and the appropriate MLA guidelines for documentation. You will study the techniques of public speaking, interviewing, and deliver formal speeches.

Read more...
 
9th Grade ESL (Language Development) - Ellie Martinez
During the first semester in 9th. grade ESL, the concentration will be on writing and grammar. The following points will be reviewed: Punctuation and capitalization rules as well as verb agreement. We will do a unit on narrative writing which will include a review of the use of time order words and phrases and adverbs of frequency. We will be looking closely at sentence structure, specifically compound sentences and the correct use of the sentence connectors and, but, so and or. At the end of the unit the students will use a freewriting exercise they did at the beginning of the unit to write a short essay on a memorable experience in their lives.
 
9th Grade Drama - Maribel Castillo
Welcome to 9th Grade Drama
 
10th Grade English (World Literature) - Jason Hershberger

Textbook - Elements of Literature Fourth Course Holt 2003

This is a world literature survey course with a focus on drama, poetry, short stories, novels, and non-fiction written by world authors. Students will write intensively as an instrument to develop critical and analytical thinking in relation to the various genres and literary works studied. Students will study the basics of public speaking and speech-making. Students will also study the techniques of conducting and evaluating interviews.

Read more...
 
10th Grade Drama - Damien Pitter

Course Description

The Grade 10 course establishes a foundation of basic dramatic skills and understandings, and builds from that foundation to encourage students to be both thoughtful and compassionate observers, and expressive communicators.  Students explore the communicative potential of their bodies, their voices, costumes, props, sets and physical space through individual exercises, group improvisations and the performance of scripted scenes.

 

 

Read more...
 
10th Grade ESL (Language Development) - Ellie Martinez
During the first semester in 10th. grade ESL, the concentration will be on writing and grammar. The following points will be reviewed: Punctuation and capitalization rules as well as verb agreement. We will do a unit on narrative writing which will include a review of the use of time order words and phrases and adverbs of frequency. We will be looking closely at sentence structure, specifically compound sentences and the correct use of the sentence connectors and, but, so and or. At the end of the unit the students will use a freewriting exercise they did at the beginning of the unit to write a short essay on a memorable experience in their lives
 
11th Grade American Literature - David Pover

Welcome to 11th Grade American Literature

 

 
11th Grade AP English Lit & Composition - David Pover

Mr Pover

AP English Literature 

Content to be covered

Throughout the year we will be reading short stories and poems, written by English, American and International authors, from the late 16th century through to modern times. We will also be focusing particularly closely on two plays; Hamlet and Waiting for Godot

(although the school has copies of these plays, I recommend that students buy their own copies as that will help with note-taking and private study), and students will read at least one novel of their choosing (taken from a pre-selected list of novels of recognized literary merit).

A detailed timeline will be provided to the students during the first week of school.

Read more...
 
12th Grade British Literature - David Pover

Mr Pover

Grade 12 British Literature 

Content to be covered 

The course provides an overview of British Literature, from Chaucer through to the modern age. This year, while we will be looking at poetry from many different genres and ages, we will focus on Romantic poetry (in particular the poetry of Keats), Victorian poetry (Tennyson), and modernist poetry (Eliot). We will study a Shakespeare play (yet to be determined), and the novels Heart of Darkness and Wuthering Heights. We will also read several short stories from writers as diverse as Dickens, Wells or Maugham.

A detailed timeline will be provided to the students during the first week of school.

Read more...
 
12th Grade AP English Language - David Pover
Welcome to 12th Grade AP English Language
 

Joomla School Template by Joomlashack
School Joomla Templates and Joomla Tutorials