Middle School ELA Course Descriptions
In this course, students will expand their creative, analytical reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, as well as refining their speaking and listening skills through the use of the Reading and Writing Workshop format. Through this format, students will develop their ability to closely read and interpret increasingly complex literature and informational texts. They will express their thinking through writing and speaking in a variety of ways, for a variety of purposes and audiences. Students will additionally engage in inquiry based research to improve skills within self selected topics. Not only does this reinforce key concepts learned in elementary school but it also prepares them for deeper concepts seen later in secondary education.
In this course, students will expand their critical, creative, and analytical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students will explore and develop their ability to closely read and interpret and respond to increasingly complex texts. Students will also engage in the writing process to produce compelling, organized and elaborate writing pieces.
In this course, students will expand their critical, creative, and analytical reading, writing, and thinking skills, as well as refine their speaking and listening skills using the workshop model (mini-lesson, independent practice, small group and conferring, and share). Students will develop their ability to closely read, interpret, and analyze increasingly complex literature and informational texts. They will express their thinking through writing and speaking in a variety of ways, for a variety of purposes and audiences. Students will additionally engage in inquiry based research to improve skills within self selected topics.
6th grade Disciplinary Literacy is a fully digital course that focuses on an adjoining approach to literacy taught through the primary ELA curriculum, while maintaining unique areas of study. Students will have the opportunity to explore the power of persuasion as it affects marketing and formally with an argumentative piece of writing around a social issue. Finally, students will look at script writing as it relates to motion pictures, podcasting, and other media. Additionally, students will develop their skills in the core areas of ELA which include substantial work within writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
Communication Arts is a project-based class that allows students to transfer skills developed in ELA and other GMS courses for the purpose of becoming more globally aware communicators who approach problems with a solution-oriented mindset. Students who take Comm Arts explore the many ways people communicate with one another, and how different ways of communicating can enhance or potentially hinder problem-solving capabilities.
Intro to Digital Authorship is a course that introduces the first steps of digital production, using a variety of cloud based apps. The class is project based and is led through a workshop approach. Through a variety of creative projects, students have the opportunity to develop storytelling and communication skills while learning new uses of tech* that are also transferable to other content areas.
Digital Authorship is a project based class that involves creating videos, music, animations, podcasts, and digital stories. Students participating in this workshop will explore digital production through the use of iMovie, Garageband, iBooks Author, green screen technology and additional Macbook apps*. The second half of the year holds a strong emphasis on student self-directed projects where students have the opportunity to define their own (independent and/or collaborative) projects. Students will develop their author’s voice and will explore their unique passions and interests!
Digital Authorship is a project based class that involves creating videos, music, animations, podcasts, and digital stories. Students participating in this workshop will explore digital production through the use of iMovie, Garageband, iBooks Author, green screen technology and additional Macbook apps*. The second half of the course holds a strong emphasis on student self-directed projects where students have the opportunity to define their own (independent and/or collaborative) projects. Students will develop their author’s voice and will explore their unique passions and interests!
Students who enjoyed creating videos, music, animations and digital stories in 7th grade Digital Authorship have the opportunity to take their digital production to another level! Through podcasts, music videos, public service announcements and a variety of creative projects we will continue to explore techniques and strategies that can be used with iMovie, Garageband, and other macbook apps. Student self-directed projects (independent and/or collaborative) are again a personalized learning opportunity in Digital Authorship 8-2. Students will continue to explore their unique passions and interests, as they strengthen their skill sets in digital production!