English/Language Arts Department
Grades 6–8
Gideon Welles (Grade 6) and Smith (Grades 7 and 8) Language Arts Teachers are working to revise and enhance a Language Arts Curriculum that not only prepares middle school students for high school, but also encourages lifelong reading and writing habits. On these pages you will learn about some of the significant changes to our curriculum, as we work to create and guarantee learning experiences that help students to discover their interests, their talents, and themselves.
Overarching Essential Questions
What are the features that define quality text?
How does one read for meaning?
What does a skillful writer need to know and do?
What does a strategic listener do?
How do we communicate effectively?
How does attention to vocabulary and conventions impact speaking, listening, writing, and reading?
Anyone who calls herself or himself a reader can tell you that it starts with encountering great books, heartfelt recommendations, and a community of readers who share this passion.
—Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child