Language Arts 6

The 6th Grade Language Arts Curriculum integrates literature, vocabulary, writing and grammar together in a 21st Century setting. The students will be given the opportunity to create blogs (on-line journals) where they can log and reflect upon their independent reading. They will be asked to engage in discussion forums where they will post their writing for the teacher and other students enrolled in the course to view and respond. They will be presented with the possibility of creating a multimedia report rather than a traditional research paper. This course will empower life-long learners- who are actively engaged in their own learning and take ownership of their scholastic endeavors. Syllabus

Language Arts 7

Through this exciting course students will engage in an interactive, hands-on array of reading and writing activities designed to enhance and integrate literacy across all content areas – science, social studies, math, art and more. Students will develop effective communication skills through listening, speaking and writing via activities designed to strengthen vocabulary, improve grammar, and reinforce reading comprehension through strategy instruction.

Students will gain a greater appreciation for literature while recognizing the application of new life-skills through reading and writing activities designed to teach and incorporate fun at the same time. Colorful and interactive activities will motivate and facilitate better reading and writing skills to keep students constantly engaged. Teacher-to-student, student-to-self, and peer-to-peer assessments will serve as constant benchmarks that facilitate the higher-order, problem solving and collaborative skills required to meet academic and career expectations for years to come. Syllabus

Language Arts 8

Students will learn to read critically with full comprehension across genres and be able to communicate through effective writing. As students develop critical reading and writing skills, they will make important life connections through the variety of material they study. Additionally, students will practice vocabulary, grammar, and listening skills with each weekly lesson. All material will be connected to a universal theme for each unit: Tolerance; Determination; Social Justice; Times of War; Search for Self; and Cultural Traditions. As students encounter a variety of text structures and multi-media, they will be able to see how these different things connect to one large idea and see how these large ideas connect across other content areas being studied. Each student will be required to engage in activities and assessments that require critical thinking skills and that meet rigorous academic expectations. As students complete this course, hopefully they will see the relevance that this course has in their daily life and future academic and career goals. Syllabus