In middle school, students have the choice between regular and honors Language Arts classes. Both cover the same standards and material, but the honors classes go deeper and do more analysis of literature.
6th Grade English
Students will study the following: grammar; multiple writing styles including short story, drama, poetry, essay, non-fiction articles; vocabulary and spelling; literary terminology and application. Students will learn to write analytical paragraphs, personal narratives, and participate in at least two outside essay writing competitions. Students will also do an independent reading outside of class six times throughout the year and a writing response or projects of various kinds for each novel, along with a different class novel for each quarter. Reading comprehension passages and Easy CBM will continue, as well as daily grammar mechanics passages. Listening skills will be practiced through a variety of means, including audio books and teacher reading. Students will learn to use various supporting resources and technology, and biblical integration will be present in each of the content areas.
7th Grade Honors English
Students will study the following: grammar; multiple writing styles including short story, drama, poetry, essay, non-fiction articles; vocabulary and spelling; literary terminology and application. Students will learn to write 5-paragraph analytical compositions, compare and contrast essays, short story, and participate in at least two outside essay writing competitions. Students will also do an independent reading outside of class six times throughout the year and a writing response or projects of various kinds for each novel, along with a different class novel for each quarter (the Lois Lowry Giver series with correlating writing and kinesthetic project). Reading comprehension passages and Easy CBM will continue, as well as daily grammar mechanics passages. Listening skills will be practiced through a variety of means, including audio books and teacher reading. Students will learn to use various supporting resources and technology, and biblical integration will be present in each of the content areas.
8th Grade Honors English
Students will study the following: grammar; multiple writing styles including short story, drama, poetry, essay, non-fiction articles; vocabulary and spelling; literary terminology and application. Students will review analytical paragraph, compare/contrast essay, strive to write a 30-minute (timed) 5-paragraph essay, more advanced responses to literature, and participate in at least two outside essay writing competitions. Students will also do an independent reading outside of class six times throughout the year and a writing response or projects of various kinds for each novel, along with a different class novel for each quarter (focus on narrative nonfiction and classical pieces). Reading comprehension passages and Easy CBM will continue, as well as daily grammar mechanics passages. Listening skills will be practiced through a variety of means, including audio books and teacher reading. Students will learn to use various supporting resources and technology, and biblical integration will be present in each of the content areas.
Students will read a variety of novels in middle school including, but not limited to:
I am David
Diary of Anne Frank
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Giver Quartet: The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son
Unbroken
Hatchet
Touching Spirit Bear
Chasing Vermeer
Al Capone Does My Shirts
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Fever 1793
Walk Two Moons
Esperanza Rising
Chains
Forge
Ashes
Hattie Big Sky
Rocket Boys
Students also read one independent novel per quarter.
A highlight each year is the middle school book swap. Students bring in books from home and leave with new ones they swapped with friends. This is usually right before Christmas break.