Middle School & High School English Program

All students are required to take one English course per year in grades 9-12. Aligned to the Next Generation ELA Learning Standards, our required courses essentially develop and refine the life skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Most students will take the English Language Arts Regents examination at the end of 11th grade; however, students accepted into English 10 Honors will take it at the end of 10th grade.

Major works of literature, including poetry, prose selections, and short stories are read for interpretation and appreciation. Writing is viewed as a process and students will be required to compose argument, opinion, informative, and narrative pieces. Students will be expected to deliver speeches and oral interpretations independently and as part of a group. Vocabulary is developed and expanded primarily through close textual analysis, word lists generated from the required reading, as well as direct instruction from a supplemental workbook. Topics stemming from the course readings are explored for appropriate development into an MLA-style research paper, which is a requirement on each grade level.

Students who exhibit both an aptitude and a passion for reading and writing and meet specific criteria are invited into the Vertical English Honors Program. This program offers a challenging course of study that eventually leads students to Advanced Placement level courses. Students in the program are not only expected to master the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards, but also must be willing to embrace the rigor of pre-college and college level reading and writing assignments as required by the College Board. Teachers in grades 9 and 10 will start preparing students for the English Language Arts Regents, which they will take in English 10 Honors and English 11, in June.

Our Electives Program gives all students the opportunity to take one or two film electives in addition to their required English class. Additionally, seniors have the option of selecting either one full or two half-year courses specifically designed to serve as a bridge to college-level work. Besides Advanced Placement courses, we also offer a Syracuse University course in public speaking and a LIU Post class in creative writing.

To supplement the reading assigned throughout the school year, the English Department exposes students to new works and current writers through either a required or optional summer reading program. In addition to selecting works that address contemporary issues, the goals of the summer reading program are to sharpen reading skills and to foster lifelong reading habits.

Lastly, the unique language needs of our English Language Learners (ELLs) are addressed in our ENL program, which is designed to develop and improve overall literacy in English, as well as to provide subject-specific language support in each of the academic disciplines.