ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ENG001
Language Arts I
6
Fundamentals of Reading, Writing, and Grammar
1 Credit
Language Arts I focuses on providing 6th grade students with the basic skills for reading and writing, which will be necessary for continued success throughout middle and high school English. The theme of the year will focus on change; within oneself, within the world, and in the way one is perceived; which will carry throughout the texts read as well as written assignments. A main component of the Devon curriculum will be to express this theme through collaborative projects within the classroom as well as with other disciplines. Students will leave 6th grade confident in their ability to: use close reading skills to analyze key ideas and details from a variety of texts, participate in classroom discussions and activities to apply literary concepts, effectively make predictions and connections, become familiar with the writing process by understanding the importance of pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing in order to write expository and narrative pieces, as well as grow in the areas of grammar and vocabulary. Notetaking and study skills will also be taught and honed throughout the year. A cumulative final assessment evaluating 6th grade learning targets will be given at the end of the course. ENG002
Language Arts II
7
Strengthening Reading, Writing, and Grammar Skills
1 Credit
Language Arts II aims to continue to strengthen and grow necessary critical reading skills as well as writing skills. The theme of the year will be integrity and grit, which will carry throughout the texts read as well as assignments written. Again, collaborative opportunities between departments will allow for deeper analysis and application of the theme and the texts read. 7th graders will begin to take more ownership in their Language Arts education by having a self-selected novel project. Students will leave 7th grade confident in their ability to: read, decipher, and analyze a variety of texts; determine the purpose and importance of the organizational structure of various pieces; compare and contrast various texts and genres; and continue to use the various steps of the writing process for expository, narrative, and persuasive pieces. Growth in study skills, grammar, and vocabulary will also continue in this course. Students will be using various novels for this course and will need to obtain them by the assigned due date. A cumulative final assessment evaluating 7th grade learning targets will be given at the end of the course. ENG003
Language Arts III
8
Advanced Reading, Writing, and Grammar
1 Credit
Language Arts III aims to prepare students for the transition to high school level reading and writing, so that success is imminent. The theme of the year will be choices and consequences, which will carry throughout the texts read and assignments written. Collaborative opportunities between departments, including a focus on this theme, will allow for continued application in an interdisciplinary way. 8th graders will continue with their independent growth as readers by selecting their own novel for a unit. Additionally, completion of a research paper assessing all skills learned throughout the year will be required. Students will leave 8th grade confident in their ability to: analyze, decipher, and evaluate texts using evidence to support claims; identify and apply a variety of literary devices throughout reading and
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