The Language Arts curriculum in the Upper School is a combination of writing for real purposes, independent reading, literature study, and English language skills.

READING

Students are immersed in quality literature and learn to choose their own books based on interest and reading ability. The Center of the Study of Reading reports that the single factor most strongly associated with reading achievement -- more than socioeconomic status or any instructional approach -- is independent reading (Anderson, Wilson, and Fielding, 1988). Reading instruction in the middle school years stresses comprehension and meaning making. During the course of the year students will learn and practice specific reading strategies in varying contexts:

• Activating relevant, prior knowledge (schema) before, during, and after reading text. Proficient readers "use prior knowledge to evaluate the adequacy of the model of meaning they have developed" and to store newly learned information with other related memories (Pearson et al, 1983: Hanson, 1981).
• Identifying the most important ideas and themes in a text.
• Carrying on an inner dialogue with the author, asking questions of the author to clarify and focus on making meaning of them.
• Creating visual and other sensory images from text during and after reading.
• Retelling and synthesizing what they have read.
• Inferring author's purpose and thematic understanding.

WRITING

Writing instruction is taught in a workshop model in which students study models of quality writing across genres and try out strategies real writers use to write for real purposes. They work within the confines of the "writing process" as a vehicle to brainstorm, formulate and craft ideas for stories, personal narratives, expository text, poetry, etc.

In the Writing Workshop students are given extended periods of time in class to write. They learn how to choose their own topics and decide on the purpose and audience for their writing pieces. Revision is the heart of writing instruction. In addition, part of the workshop is devoted to read aloud of quality literature. Students notice literary elements of published writers with the intent of infusing craft in to their own writing.

Writing mini lessons fall into three distinct categories. They are procedural, literary and writing conventions.

• Procedural -- students learn the practices and procedures of the workshop to help move them smoothly through the writing process.
• Literary Craft -- students analyze and critique quality literature to incorporate strategies and techniques in their writing.
• Writing Conventions -- students recognize the purpose and use of grammar, punctuation and spelling as a means to make sense out of print.