As students begin the Seventh Grade year, they are introduced to a three-year program of developing reading and writing skills. Working in conjunction with the chronology of the history courses taught at each level, this program lends itself to interdisciplinary study without sacrificing the essential fundamentals of an English course designed for middle school aged children. Through the use of a variety of genres, students are exposed to a wide range of authors and styles. The grammar text, used over the three-year period, helps students learn to articulate their ideas on paper with increasing complexity at each level. Writing occurs in a myriad of ways, from responses to literature to literary analysis and research.
Literature
Seventh Grade Students are introduced to the analysis of the novel as a literary form. In addition, they explore the genres of short story, essays and poetry. Plot, theme, character development, conflict and climax are all reinforced. Novels currently being used include Call of the Wild, by Jack London, April Morning, by Howard Fast and To Be a Slave, by Julius Lester. The literature anthology, Exploring Literature (Ginn) is the primary source for all other works.
In the Eighth Grade, students continue to study a variety of literary genres. Novels currently being used include Amelia's War, by Ann Rinaldi, All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, and To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Great American Short Stories (Dover) is a collection of short stories that are read. Poems and essays come from a variety of sources. A multi-media project, an integrated project (English history, library and computer), encompasses research and technology skills.
In the Ninth Grade, a combination of the elements of the prior two years is used to round out the English program. Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha is read as an accompaniment to the history class' study of India. Poignant and relative essay reading and writing permeate the fall term. Twentieth Century poetry is read during the spring. Finally, students read Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart while studying Africa in History.
Shakespeare
Taught as a universal unit throughout Seventh - Ninth Grade, William Shakespeare is the focus of the English curriculum during the winter term. Reading the plays A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Seventh Grade), Romeo and Juliet (Eighth Grade) and Henry IV (Ninth Grade), students develop a thorough understanding of the Bard during their time at East Woods. Films, student translation of passages and performances by students all combine to provide color to the unit. This portion of the year culminates with the annual Renaissance Festival. Here, students perform scenes from the plays, present art projects, perform music and present the food of the Elizabethan era. A daylong affair, the festival is an energized and creative finish to our celebration of Shakespeare and his work.
Grammar
Grammar is another important function of English study for Seventh-Ninth Grade. Students are introduced to the text, Writing and Grammar (Prentice Hall) at the beginning of Seventh Grade and continue working with it through Ninth Grade.
In Seventh Grade students review the function and use of all parts of speech and learn subject complements. All aspects of mechanics and grammar are taught and/or reviewed through their writing.
In the Eighth Grade, more complex forms of writing are taught. Verbals, the effective use of various phrases and the intricacies of compound and complex sentences are grammatical points of focus. Essay writing continues to grow in emphasis.
The fall of the Ninth Grade year is devoted to the writing of essays. As students prepare secondary school applications, this portion of the year is of great importance. Stylistic issues, syntax, diction and perspective are all points of focus, as students seek a "voice" in writing. Usage of parts of speech in writing, as well as the finer points of punctuation and mechanics, are covered during the Ninth Grade year. Prior to graduation, and in coordination with the history course, students are taken through the process of writing a formal research paper, the length of which is between 7 and 15 pages. Thesis statements, citation and the structuring of a formal paper are points of emphasis.
Grades
Formal term grades are given to students three times per year at the end of each marking period. Interim grades are also given halfway through each term. These are not official grades but rather indications of students’ averages in the course.
In terms of specifically graded assignments, a weighted system of grading is used. Tests and major papers/projects are counted the most, while quizzes and assignments are also given, and assessments of these help to determine students’ effort ratings. Class participation, attentiveness to detail and respect for course and course materials are also factors in determining effort. A final exam is given at the end of each academic year and counts toward the students’ averages for the third marking period.