6-12 Department Vision

The English Language Arts Department provides all students with the opportunity to develop mastery in literacy through a rigorous and engaging curriculum in order to prepare them to be empathetic, reflective, and thoughtful citizens. Our student-centered instructional practices engage students, both individuals and in collaborative groups, to demonstrate increased independence in reading, writing, communication, research, and critical thinking. We do this by providing opportunities to develop an understanding of self and others so they will be able to engage with local, national, and global communities. 

6-12 Department Overview and Context

• English Language Arts students can expect immersive experiences in a variety of reading and writing units of study. Students will read both fiction and non-fiction and will write for a variety of purposes, audiences, and tasks throughout the year.

• Assessments encompass a mix of performance-based tasks, like essays and group projects, as well as several formative assessments that are classroom specific. 

• Reading selections are age-appropriate and build on the skills acquired from the previous year to increase independence, fluency, and stamina; Writing instruction follows a process approach in which student choice of topic, details, structure, and organization are valued and encouraged to personalize the learning. 

• The English Language Arts department encourages students’ skills in resilience, mindfulness, and stamina as they are given tasks of increasing complexity over the years.