Instructional Focus: Teachers will model
instructional strategies, and students will
participate in guided and independent
practice, whole group, small group and
independent activities; all students are
expected to read independently outside
the school day.
Advanced English Language Arts 7
[full year, two periods]
Prerequisite/Selection Process: Test
scores, district guidelines and teacher
recommendation
Intended Audience: Grade 7 students
who read and write significantly above
grade level
Major Outcomes:
• Same as ELA 7 with more challenging
reading and writing expectations
• Additional emphasis on interpretive/
analytical and critical/evaluative
reading, writing and discussion
Projects/Activities: Writing, independent
reading, research
Instructional Focus: Teachers will model
instructional strategies, and students will
participate in guided and independent
practice, whole group, small group and
independent activities; all students are
expected to read independently outside
the school day.
English Language Arts 7
[full year, two periods]
Intended Audience: Grade 7
Major Outcomes:
• Read and analyze a variety of literature
and informational texts.
• Write frequently in a variety of
forms, emphasizing informative
and argumentative techniques.
• Develop language skills including
vocabulary, sentence structure,
and grammar/mechanics.
• Develop skills in speaking, listening,
inquiry, and research.
Projects/Activities: Writing assignments,
research, and independent reading.
Instructional Focus: Teachers will model
instructional strategies, and students will
participate in guided and independent
practice, whole group, small group and
independent activities; all students are
expected to read independently outside
the school day.
Middle School Registration Guide
Advanced English Language Arts 8
[full year]
Prerequisite/Selection Process: Test
scores, district guidelines and teacher
recommendation
Intended Audience: Students in Grade 8
who read and write significantly above
grade level
Major Outcomes:
• Same as ELA 8, with more challenging
reading and writing expectations.
• Additional emphasis on interpretive/
analytical and critical/evaluative
reading, writing and discussion.
Projects/Activities: Writing, independent
reading, research.
Instructional Focus: Teachers will model
instructional strategies, and students will
participate in guided and independent
practice, whole group, small group and
independent activities; all students are
expected to read independently outside
the school day.
English Language Arts 8
[full year]
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Read and analyze a variety of literature
and informational texts.
• Write frequently in a variety of
forms, emphasizing narrative and
argumentative techniques.
• Develop language skills including
vocabulary, sentence structure,
and grammar/mechanics.
• Develop skills in speaking, listening,
research, and media literacy.
Projects/Activities: Writing assignments,
research project, speeches, and inde-
pendent reading.
Instructional Focus: Teachers will model
instructional strategies, and student s will
participate in guided and independent
practice, whole group, small group and
independent activities; all students are
expected to read independently outside
the school day.
Reading Strategies 6, 7, 8
[full year]
Qualifying students will be placed in a
reading intervention course [Reading
Strategies 6, 7, or 8] in addition to their
grade-level English course, based on
state and district test scores as well
as teacher recommendation. For more
information, please contact the Reading
department leader at your child’s school.
Science Fiction
[JMS only]
[elective, every other day]
Intended Audience: 7th and 8th grade
students interested in improving read-
ing/writing, and/or scientific inquiry
Major Outcomes:
In this course students will:
• Examine the genre of science fiction
alongside the non-fiction science that
creates worlds and situations that can’t
happen yet, and might never happen,
but deal with the world we live in today.
• Increase knowledge of history and na-
ture of science through scientific inquiry.
• Create print and non-print texts for
different audiences and purposes.
• Write effectively using the writing
process (prewriting, drafting, revising,
editing, publishing)
Projects/Activities: Students will examine
versions of science fiction in print and
nonprint. Projects include inventing an
item to be used in the future, designing a
future society, researching a current prob-
lem in our world and proposing a solution
in a presentation. Students will create
their own science fiction writing piece.
Discussions and presentations will be
used to analyze science fiction. This
course is designed for those who are
already science fiction fans, as well as,
those who want to improve reading and
writing skills. There will be opportunities
for creative and analytical work. Through
reading, writing, and viewing science
fiction, students will be prepared to
tackle tomorrow’s problems.
Instructional Focus: Students will improve
reading and writing skills in connection
with scientific inquiry. Science fiction
writes about tomorrow, but talks about
today and this course will equip students
with knowledge to better understand our
world.
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