Per School Board Policy IIA and Virginia Code 22.1-16.8, the Board ensures parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content. This course may have sexually explicit content in reading selections chosen by specific teachers. Parents will be notified via ParentSquare 30 days in advance of the reading and will have the option to choose a different text. For more information, please contact Tracie Judd (tjudd@hampton.k12.va.us).LANGUAGE ARTS 6 (606300)The core curriculum at grade six is a study of literature and application of reading strategies. Students learn about the literary elements of the short story, the novel, and poetry. Nonfiction informational texts and media are also included and students will analyze information and topics across genres. There are four strands of instruction: Communication and Multimodal Literacies, Media Literacy; Reading; Writing; and Research. In each strand, students read, write, think critically, and respond both orally and in writing. Writing at this level focuses on the process of writing a well-developed, multiparagraph essay. Students write narration, description, exposition, persuasion and reflection. The students will also apply the research concepts of collecting and evaluating information to incorporate into a piece of writing. The curriculum has been aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning. Students will take the Grade 6 Reading SOL test.LANGUAGE ARTS 7 (707300)The core curriculum at grade seven is a study of literature that includes short stories, poems, novels, nonfiction, informational, and media texts. Students will apply reading strategies and analyze information and topics across genres. There are four strands of instruction: Communication and Multimodal Literacies, Media Literacy; Reading; Writing; and Research. Students will read, write, and think critically. Writing at this level includes expository, narrative, persuasive and reflective. The students will also apply the research concepts of collecting and evaluating information to incorporate into a piece of writing. The curriculum has been aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning. Students will take the Grade 7 Reading SOL test.LANGUAGE ARTS 8 (808300)The core curriculum at grade eight is a study of literature that includes fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, poetry, nonfiction, and media. Students will apply reading strategies, analyze information and topics across genres, and continue to strengthen their skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. There are four strands of instruction: Communication and Multimodal Literacies, Media Literacy; Reading; Writing; and Research. Writing at this level will challenge students to produce narrative, expository, reflective writings, and a research product. The curriculum has been aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning. Students will take the Grade 8 Reading and Writing SOL tests.*All middle and high school students in Hampton are required to complete summer reading prior to the start of school in September. Various assignments will begin in all classrooms when school opens in September. Summer reading titles and requirements will be made available during the Spring of each year..Reading and Writing Exploration 6 (606320), 7 (707320), 8 (808320)Reading and Writing Exploration is a Tier 2 intervention for middle schools designed to provide explicit and targeted instruction for developing readers and writers. Students will develop conventions of print and non-print text, appropriate word recognition and vocabulary skills, strategies to increase reading comprehension, responding to text through writing and discussion, and foundational and advanced strategies to improve writing outcomes. The intervention course also includes whole group instruction, small group instruction, independent reading, and computer-based vocabulary practice. The intervention can benefit students in many ways. Students who meet the criteria receive additional explicit and systematic instruction every other day for 90 minutes. In addition, students will have access to reduced class sizes, engaging multi-genre materials, and immediate feedback and support to guide students to mastery. The goal of the intervention is to aid students in meeting grade-level expectations in the Tier 1 English Language Arts course.