Teacher:

Mrs. Nancy Bourquardez

Language Arts Class Summary

The Seventh through Ninth Grade language arts program uses skills learned in the lower grades and builds new skills in reading, writing, listening, viewing, speaking, use and understanding of the language and literature. The literature selections introduce students to a variety of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama, in an increasingly challenging continuum, and by the end of the program, students have had the opportunity to learn about character development, exposition, development of plot, resolution, theme, tone, symbolism, figurative language, mood, irony, foreshadowing, flashback, persuasion techniques, and point of view. The Accelerated Reader program encourages students to read independently within their reading level range, with the ultimate goal of improving comprehension. Spelling and vocabulary words are selected from reading selections and are used in writing assignments. Grammar, capitalization, and punctuation skills are covered, also in an increasingly challenging continuum, and by the end of the program, students have had the opportunity to use those expanded skills in conjunction with a variety of writing assignments in which preliminary planning, revision and editing are expected. The Perfect Copy software program strengthens and develops grammar, punctuation, and word usage skills through the editing of excerpts from a variety of reading selections. Role-playing simulation games such as Spelling Wizards and King Lexicon are designed to reinforce basic language arts skills as students use and refine group decision-making skills while encountering obstacles and opportunities within the games. Verbal communication skills are taught and improved through a series of discussions, question and answer sessions, oral reports, dramatic readings, and storytelling. Research skills are taught and applied in the organizing and writing of a formal research paper.

Seventh Grade Language Arts

Texts:
Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Elements of Literature, First Course (7)
Holt, Middle School Handbook (grammar)
Yep, Laurence, Dragonwings

Supplemental Materials:
Accelerated Reader software program
Perfect Copy software program
Supplemental duplicate masters and teacher-generated worksheets

Methods:
Follow-up discussions of reading selections, and written work given to test recall, ability to infer, predict, summarize, evaluate. Oral or written tests on spelling and vocabulary words taken from reading selections. Book critiques, given orally or in written form test ability to identify setting, plot, conflict, climax, resolution. Poetry read, analysed, written, and recited. Short writing assignments are given on topics chosen by teacher or students. Additional longer writing assignments, using various writing formats, given to experience entire writing process, including preliminary planning and revising. Editing skills emphasized. Research skills taught using print and non-print sources, including electronic sources. Library visits coordinated with literature program. Diagramming is taught to reinforce grammar lessons. When possible, multi-media forms of communication are used in conjunction with certain authors and reading selections.

Eighth Grade Language Arts

Texts:
Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Elements of Literature, Second Course (8)
Holt, Middle School Handbook (grammar)
Strasser, Todd, The Wave

Supplemental Materials:
Accelerated Reader software program
Perfect Copy software program
King Lexicon interactive simulation
Supplemental duplicate masters and teacher-generated worksheets

Methods:
Follow-up discussions of reading selections, and written work given to test recall, ability to infer, predict, summarize, evaluate. Oral or written tests on spelling and vocabulary words taken from reading selections. Book critiques, given orally or in written form test ability to identify setting, plot, conflict, climax, resolution. Poetry read, analysed, written, and recited. Short writing assignments are given on topics chosen by teacher or students. Additional longer writing assignments, using various writing formats, given to experience entire writing process, including preliminary planning and revising. Editing skills emphasized. Research skills taught using print and non-print sources, including electronic sources. Library visits coordinated with literature program. Diagramming is taught to reinforce grammar lessons. When possible, multi-media forms of communication are used in conjunction with certain authors and reading selections.

Ninth Grade Honors Language Arts

Texts:
Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Elements of Literature, Third Course (9)
Holt, High School Handbook 1 (grammar)
Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, A Parallel Text, Second Edition

Supplemental Materials:
Accelerated Reader software program
Perfect Copy software program
Supplemental duplicate masters and teacher-generated worksheets reinforce concepts and skills.

Methods:
Follow-up discussions of reading selections, and written work given to test recall, ability to infer, predict, summarize, evaluate. Oral or written tests on spelling and vocabulary words taken from reading selections. Book critiques, given orally or in written form test ability to identify setting, plot, conflict, climax, resolution. Students read and interpret lines in Shakespearean tragedy in our study of drama. Poetry read, analysed, written, and recited. Short writing assignments are given on topics chosen by teacher or students. Additional longer writing assignments, using various writing formats, given to experience entire writing process, including preliminary planning and revising. Editing skills emphasized. Research skills taught using print and non-print sources, including electronic sources. Library visits coordinated with literature program. Diagramming is taught to reinforce grammar lessons. When possible, multi-media forms of communication are used in conjunction with certain authors and reading selections.