English Language Arts (ELA)
COLLEGE-PREPARATORY/ WORK-READY PROGRAM
5th Grade: Language Arts 5
6th Grade: Language Arts 6
7th Grade: Language Arts 7
8th Grade: Language Arts 8
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ACADEMIC PROGRAM
5th Grade: Language Arts 5
6th Grade: Honors Language Arts 6
7th Grade: Honors Language Arts 7
8th Grade: Honors Language Arts 8
110003
Language Arts 5
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 5
Language Arts 5 develops student engagement with nonfiction and fiction texts through comprehension, interpretation, analysis, and evaluation. Students learn to express their ideas effectively through narratives, explanatory, and opinion essays that demonstrate a command of Standard English including sentence building, paragraph development, vocabulary, and word choice. This course also includes researching real-world topics through an inquiry-based process to report findings. In addition to reading and writing, students expand their skills in listening, speaking, and multimodal literacies.
110103
Language Arts 6
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: Language Arts 5
Grade Level(s): 6
Language Arts 6 develops student engagement with nonfiction and fiction texts through comprehension, interpretation, analysis, and evaluation. Students learn to express their ideas effectively through narratives, explanatory, and argumentative essays that demonstrate a command of Standard English including sentence building, paragraph development, vocabulary, and word choice. This course also includes researching real-world topics through an inquiry-based process to report findings. In addition to reading and writing, students expand their skills in listening, speaking, and multimodal literacies.
130103
Honors Language Arts 6
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: Language Arts 5
Grade Level(s): 6
Honors Language Arts 6 includes the content from Language Arts 6; however, it is designed to meet the needs of advanced students who wish to pursue college by preparing them for national exams through complex and challenging texts. Students develop independent analytical reasoning skills and study habits that are appropriate for success at the collegiate level.
110303
Language Arts 7
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: Language Arts 5 and 6
Grade Level(s): 7
Language Arts 7 develops student engagement with nonfiction and fiction texts through comprehension, interpretation, analysis, and evaluation. Students make comparisons to distinguish genres in literary texts and continue to develop the skills of expressing their ideas effectively in writing through a variety of purposes that build on and deepen skills. Furthermore, students introduce a claim with reasons and provide evidence to support their reasoning, that can be expressed verbally and in writing. This course also includes researching real-world topics through an inquiry-based process to report findings. In addition to reading and writing, students expand their skills in listening, speaking, and multimodal literacies.
130303
Honors Language Arts 7
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: Language Arts 5 and 6
Grade Level(s): 7
Honors Language Arts 7 includes the content from Language Arts 6; however, it is designed to meet the needs of advanced students who wish to pursue college by preparing them for national exams through complex and challenging texts. Students develop independent analytical reasoning skills and study habits that are appropriate for success at the collegiate level.
110503
Language Arts 8
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: Language Arts 5, 6, and 7
Grade Level(s): 8
Language Arts 8 develops student engagement with nonfiction and fiction texts through comprehension, interpretation, analysis, and evaluation. Students make comparisons to distinguish genres in literary texts and continue to develop the skills of expressing their ideas effectively in writing through a variety of purposes that build on and deepen skills. Furthermore, students present a claim with reasons and provide evidence to support their reasoning, that can be expressed verbally and in writing. Additionally, this course includes researching real-world topics through an inquiry-based process to report findings. In addition to reading and writing, students expand their skills in listening, speaking, and multimodal literacies.
130603
Honors Language Arts 8
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: Language Arts 5, 6, and 7
Grade Level(s): 8
Honors Language Arts 8 includes the content from Language Arts 7; however, it is designed to meet the needs of advanced students who wish to pursue college by preparing them for national exams through complex and challenging texts. Students develop independent analytical reasoning skills and study habits that are appropriate for success at the collegiate level.
LANGUAGE ARTS ELECTIVES
110606
Reading
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8
Reading focuses on increasing reading fluency, comprehension, expanding vocabulary, and applying knowledge of word context, word origin, and root words. Students evaluate and analyze events, characters, conflicts, plots, and literary elements using strategies to enhance factual and higher-level thinking.
140906
Creative Writing
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 7, 8
Creative Writing explores different types of writing genres. Students are exposed to examples of professional creative writing and are expected to create their own personal pieces that will improve their self-expression and self-editing skills.
110500
Reading and Writing Workshop
Quarter(s): 1
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8
Reading and Writing Workshop reinforces and complements the themes, skills, and activities that are part of the English Language Arts curriculum. Students are involved in reading and writing in multiple genres and the creation of projects that may include technology.
142903
Debate
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8
Debate develops and improves verbal and nonverbal performance skills (organization, projection, inflection, eye-contact, hand gestures, and more) and helps students communicate ideas to an audience. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and listening skills while building a foundation for effective argumentation and advocacy through inquiry-based research.
810602
Humanities SEM
Quarter(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 7, 8
Humanities inspires a love of history, geography, culture, literature, poetry, and drama while cultivating independent thinkers and writers. It is an interdisciplinary course where students apply theories and concepts.
810600
Humanities
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 7, 8
Humanities explores the relationship between humans and their relationships to societies in which they are created. This may include the study of specific cultures and their economic, political, and technological environment.
103631
Introduction to Journalism
Quarter(s): 1
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 6, 7
Introduction to Journalism teaches students how to gather information, organize ideas, format stories for different forms of news media, and edit their stories for publication. The course also examines the historical development of journalism and the role of journalism in society.
103630
Journalism
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8
Journalism focuses on mass media with an emphasis on developing the journalistic style of writing through the daily practice of writing articles employing specific journalistic techniques. Topics covered include understanding the First Amendment, functions and responsibilities of journalistic publications, news writing, feature writing, newspaper design, magazine and yearbook design, caption writing, photography, and as time permits, the history of journalism along with laws and ethics of journalism.
105330
Newspaper
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: Journalism
Grade Level(s): 7, 8
Newspaper focuses on producing and distributing the school newspaper. Staff members strive to obtain the highest standards of journalism. Students document school events, write feature stories, reviews, and columns. Extra time outside of class may be required.
104230
Yearbook
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: Journalism
Grade Level(s): 7, 8
Yearbook focuses on producing and distributing the school yearbook. Staff members work to gather information and report findings in a style appropriate for yearbook publication as well as proposing layouts for printing and preparing drafts for publication. Students who enroll should have a special interest in the course and be willing to work outside of school hours when necessary.
110113
Language Arts Enrichment 6
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 6
Language Arts Enrichment 6 focuses on research, text structure, rhetorical devices, character development, voice, and fluency. Students create informative pieces as well as fictional writing.
110313
Language Arts Enrichment 7
Quarter(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 7
Language Arts Enrichment 7 focuses on research, text structure, rhetorical devices, character development, voice, and fluency. Students create informative pieces as well as fictional writing.
8110513
Language Arts Enrichment 8
Quarter(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 8
Language Arts Enrichment 8 focuses on research, text structure, rhetorical devices, character development, voice, and fluency. Students create informative pieces as well as fictional writing.
120353
Academic Achievement Reading 5
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 5
Academic Achievement Reading 5 provides students with additional time to improve basic reading skills in word analysis, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and written literary response using a variety of materials differentiated to meet student needs.
120363
Academic Achievement Reading 6
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 6
Academic Achievement Reading 6 provides students with additional time to improve basic reading skills in word analysis, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and written literary response using a variety of materials differentiated to meet student needs.
120373
Academic Achievement Reading 7
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 7
Academic Achievement Reading 7 provides students with additional time to improve basic reading skills in word analysis, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and written literary response using a variety of materials differentiated to meet student needs.
120383
Academic Achievement Reading 8
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 8
Academic Achievement Reading 8 provides students with additional time to improve basic reading skills in word analysis, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and written literary response using a variety of materials differentiated to meet student needs.
120462
Reading Strategies 5
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 5
Reading Strategies 5 provides students with additional time to improve basic reading skills in word analysis, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and written literary response using a variety of materials differentiated to meet student needs.
120463
Reading Strategies 6
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 6
Reading Strategies 6 provides students with additional time to improve basic reading skills in word analysis, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and written literary response using a variety of materials differentiated to meet student needs.
120473
Reading Strategies 7
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 7
Reading Strategies 7 provides students with additional time to improve basic reading skills in word analysis, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and written literary response using a variety of materials differentiated to meet student needs.
120483
Reading Strategies 8
Quarter(s): 4
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 8
Reading Strategies 8 provides students with additional time to improve basic reading skills in word analysis, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and written literary response using a variety of materials differentiated to meet student needs.