Lodi High School English Department

Philosophy

Language Arts is central to every student’s education with reading and writing being foundational skills for all academic subject areas.  The importance of Language Arts is highlighted by the Common Core Standards which now include language standards for History and Science in addition to Language Arts.  Not surprisingly, Language Arts is one of the few courses students must take all four years of high school.
To meet these high standards, the teachers of the Lodi High School Language Arts Department use traditional literature, literary non-fiction, short stories, plays, newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, essays, historical fiction, and research papers to expose students to multiple and diverse literary forms. 
Students read works of nonfiction such as The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens and Into the Wild. Students also read classical texts such as A Separate Peace, The Scarlet Letter and The Great Gatsby.  Students are exposed to modern novels such as Tuesdays with Morrie, Ordinary People and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.  Novels are often paired with thematically connected non-fiction readings.  Characters in these stories reflect the diverse world we live in racially, socially, and ethnically.  Students engage with these characters at both an academic and a personal level, as the stories present conflicts which are ever present in our lives.
The classroom environment and student assignments are infused with 21st century technology.  Teachers incorporate the use of Google Classroom, SMARTboards, laptops/chromebooks, phones, and many other available technologies.  Classrooms are student-centered environments where students hone 21st Century life and career skills.  Creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving skills are infused into classroom lessons on a daily basis.
The Language Arts teachers at Lodi High School view teaching as more than just a profession; it is a calling which is as rewarding as it is challenging.  Our mission is to challenge our students daily, prepare them academically, and open their minds thoughtfully.