English Language Arts
Teachers
ENGLISH 6
English At JLS, students integrate the English/language arts skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening within the context of units created around Core literature. Students experience all skills within the context of a given unit. In addition to the Core literature, students experience other literature from approved materials in our bookroom. In sixth grade, students read the following Core literature:
- Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George;
- The White Mountains, John Christopher;
- D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths,
- and various poetry selections.
Based on best practices, students practice grammar and mechanics within the context of writing assignments, based on the domains of Autobiographical Incident, Story, Report of Information and Persuasive Essay. In addition, students utilize the textbook, English, published by McDougal, Littell. Students practice speaking and listening skills through formal speeches, conversations, and small group discussion. Through portfolios of their work, students practice self-reflection and self-assessment. Technology skills are demonstrated through word processing and, depending on the teacher, multimedia presentations.
ENGLISH 7
All students seventh grade continue to build their English and Language Arts skills in the areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. These abilities are developed within the context of core literature units including novels, short stories, poetry, and a play. Core literature at this level includes the following:
- The Diary of Anne Frank, the play by Goodrich and Hackett;
- The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros; Extended core is
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D. Taylor.
Teachers develop other literature units from a variety of supplemental texts, including novels, short stories, and poetry, as well as the McDougal Littell anthology. Again, using best practices, students practice the conventions of language (grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc.) in required writing assignments, teacher developed writing lessons, and grammar text lessons. Students write Summaries, Narratives, Persuasive essays, and Responses to Literature. Students practice speaking and listening skills through formal speeches and conversations, individual and group presentations, and small group discussion. Viewing and visually presenting are taught through the use of audio-visual and technological resources used in various projects. All seventh graders contribute English selections to their middle school portfolio of
work. Technology skills are demonstrated through word processing and, depending on the teacher, multimedia presentations.
ENGLISH 8
All students in grade 8 continue to build their English and Language Arts skills in
the areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. These abilities are developed within the context of core literature units, including novels, short stories, and poetry. Core literature in eighth grade includes:
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,
- The Pearl,
- and an extensive poetry unit using such books as Talking to the Sun, This Same Sky,and Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle.
Teachers develop other literature units using a variety of supplemental texts, including novels, short stories, poetry, and the McDougal Littell anthology. Using best practices, students practice the conventions of language (grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc.) in required writing assignments, teacher developed writing lessons, and grammar text lessons. Eighth grade writing domains include Persuasive Essay, Response to Lit, and Narrative. All eighth graders do research reports in history/social studies. Students practice speaking and listening skills through formal speeches and conversations, individual and group presentations, and small group discussion. Viewing and visually presenting are taught through the use of audio-visual and technological resources within various projects. All eighth graders are required to contribute English selections to complete their middle school portfolios, which are used during their Eighth Grade Exit Interviews. Technology skills are demonstrated through word processing and, depending on the teacher, multimedia presentations.