7th Grade
Just before winter break, 7th graders wrapped up their reading of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. This classic coming-of-age novel is always a favorite among students, with many excitedly sharing their thoughts with their parents, who often remember reading it themselves as young teens.
During this unit, students practiced discussion skills, analyzed themes, used text evidence, explored vocabulary, and worked on summarizing. Many also watched the movie adaptation of the novel and engaged in discussions comparing and contrasting the two versions.
As we begin 2025, students have started their next novel unit: Nothing But the Truth by Avi. Written as a documentary novel, this book explores a conflict between a teacher and a student, each with their own perspective of the “truth.” Throughout this unit, students will learn to question hearsay, gather credible evidence to evaluate who is right and wrong, and determine where the truth lies. At the conclusion of the novel, they will take a stance on the issue and argue on behalf of one character—I anticipate some lively debates!
8th Grade
Eighth graders wrapped up an argumentative essay before winter break, debating whether schools should have an earlier or later start time. Students collected evidence from interviews and articles about the topic to develop and support their arguments.
After returning from break, we jumped right into Greek Mythology. Students are exploring myths about Greek heroes, including Theseus and the Minotaur, The Iliad, and The Odyssey. Our discussions focus on major themes such as loyalty, revenge, and courage. For their final project, students will write a theme summary, connecting key themes to the setting, characters, and plot. They will also support their interpretations with text evidence.
High School English
9th Grade
Freshmen recently completed their third unit on Lord of the Flies as the first semester came to a close. During this unit, students focused on characterization using the STEAL method, examined the use of figurative language, and enhanced their writing skills by strengthening their ability to connect evidence to their claims through clear explanations.
As we begin the second semester, students will start their 4th unit by listening to the podcast Serial. In this unit, they will study podcast elements, analyze how media “spin” influences a case, and evaluate how primary and secondary sources affect one's credibility. For their culminating assessment, students will demonstrate their understanding of spin and primary and secondary sources by preparing and delivering closing arguments, either prosecuting or defending Adnan Syed. To provide a connection to career pathways, Officer Haney will visit the classes, giving students the opportunity to ask questions about his work in law enforcement.
The year is off to a great start in the Central Lee ELA Department. Our English classes are engaging with the core curriculum while also integrating iPad programs that help prepare students for future academic and career opportunities.
English 3 classes are currently working on a novel unit, while the Honors class is reading a tragedy by Shakespeare. The upper-level World Literature class has completed several texts, most recently Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Meanwhile, the Adventures in Reading class has started their Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Romance/Classical book club groups. In Graphic Communications, students are developing skills in typography, photo manipulation, and design elements.
This year’s sophomores had a busy first semester in English II. They began the
school year by strengthening their reading comprehension skills through the analysis of several short stories, including Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron, Doris Lessing’s Through the Tunnel, and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death.
In the second unit, students focused on writing an argumentative research paper, honing their abilities to support a claim with credible evidence, use transition words effectively, and maintain a formal style and objective tone. Before the holiday break, they read and analyzed John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice & Men, a literary favorite among both students and teachers.
Building on these foundational skills, students will spend the second semester learning how to critically read nonfiction texts and craft a narrative short story. The final unit for English II will focus on Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
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