WALPOLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
GRADES 6-8
Curriculum Summary by Grade
These curriculum summaries have been developed by teachers and administrators to serve as another way of communicating with parents. They highlight the core curriculum and expectations for student learning at each grade level.
The curriculum summaries describe what most students at a grade level are expected to know and be able to do by the end of the school year. They also reflect the goals of the various Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. It is important to note that although children may learn and grow at different rates and through varied styles, all should make regular progress.
While we have high expectations for all students and encourage each student to work to their capacity, parents and teachers recognize that some students have more difficulty in school. Others will progress more rapidly and move well beyond these core expectations. It is the joint responsibility of school and home to provide support, challenge, and encouragement for all students.
Grade 6
Students will strengthen their elementary literacy skills and learn to “dig deeper” when analyzing text and writing for multiple audiences. Under the theme of “Identity: Coming of Age” text selections across the genres selected, and students read, annotate and analyze for craft and meaning. Writing tasks vary in length and complexity and focus on the three major genres of narrative, argument and informational writing. Opportunities for student discourse and academic conversations present themselves during class discussions and literature circles.
Grade 7
Students will build upon their grade six skills and learn to articulate their written and oral assignments with increased idea development and sentence complexity. The theme of “Community: Establishing your Place and Perspective” is echoed throughout the short story, poetry, novel and nonfiction selections that are read through a critical lens so students can translate the craft into their own writing.
Grade 8
In preparation for high school, the written research experience and oral Socratic Seminars are embedded in the curriculum. Students continue to be encouraged to take risks, embrace multiple viewpoints, read with a critical lens, speak with confidence and write for a variety of purposes. Careful selection of fiction and nonfiction texts are aligned to the theme of “ Society: Understanding your Voice and Responding to Conflict”.
Contacts
Bird Middle School
Ed Connor, Principal
Katie Gingras, Guidance Counselor
Johnson Middle School
Steve Morgenweck, Principal
Sarah Giunta, Guidance Counselor
Lauren Culliton, English Department Head
Jodi O'Rourke, ELA/History Humanities Coordinator