English, grade 7: 

This course focuses on the development of critical and close reading skills, as well as solid communication skills, using a wide variety of both fiction and nonfiction works.  The course is designed to enhance each student’s writing, reading, analysis, and speaking skills, with an emphasis on a process-approach to coherent writing.  The goal of the course is to develop in students the habits of mind to become close readers, structured and analytical writers, and clear and confident speakers.

English, grade 8: 

This course focuses on the development of critical and close reading skills, as well as solid communication skills, using a wide variety of both fiction and nonfiction works.  The course is designed to enhance each student’s writing, reading, analysis, and speaking skills, with an emphasis on a process-approach to coherent writing.  The goal of the course is to continue to develop in students the habits of mind to become close readers, structured and analytical writers, and clear and confident speakers, with an eye on preparing students for the rigors and expectations of high school.

Reading Lab, grades 7 and 8: 

The purpose of this course is to improve students’ reading skills by providing explicit and direct instruction in reading comprehension, fluency and vocabulary development.  This is predominantly a general education support class, and is taught by the Team English teacher.  The class is intentionally small so as to allow for specially designed, targeted and direct instruction.  Students are recommended for this course based on their performance on benchmark testing and standardized test scores in the previous grades, and on the recommendation of their previous teachers.  Reading Lab currently meets one period every other day throughout the year.  When students show sufficient progress, they can be moved out of Reading Lab.