English Language Arts

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 6

106                              Grade Level 6

English Language Arts 6 is a standard course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards. Language Arts (grade 6) courses build upon students’ prior knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, word usage, and the mechanics of writing, and include the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Courses use various genres of literature to improve reading skills, and they link writing exercises for different purposes to those reading selections. Units of study may emphasize the use of language for different effects, in different contexts, and for different purposes. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts.

MERIT ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 6

116                              Grade Level 6

Merit English Language Arts 6 is a rigorous course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards. This course introduces pre-Advanced Placement (AP) strategies and is designed to prepare students for the challenges posed by Advanced Placement English courses in high school. This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, word usage, and the mechanics of writing, and include the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Courses use various genres of literature to improve reading skills, and they link writing exercises for different purposes to those reading selections. Units of study may emphasize the use of language for different effects, in different contexts, and for different purposes. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts.

MAGNET ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 6

116MG                        Grade Level 6

Magnet English Language Arts 6 is a rigorous course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards and is designed for gifted readers and writers. Best practices from gifted education and Advanced Placement (AP) strategies are used to deliver content. Research-based gifted education resources, such as those from the College of William and Mary, are woven into the WCPS Essential Curriculum ELA Standards. Projects and topics often overlap Magnet Social Studies and units integrate the school’s WCPS Magnet Program Theme. This course is designed to prepare students for the challenges posed by Advanced Placement English courses in high school. Students independently read significantly complex works of fiction and literary nonfiction and participate in discussions to evaluate the texts for content, organization, and language. Research and writing serve to support the analysis of literary and informational texts. Research exercises focus on developing thought-provoking questions and a plan for collecting information to address those questions. Writing exercises focus on implementing the writing process in its entirety, from generating a topic to publishing the final draft.

Integrated grammar and vocabulary study enhance students’ comprehension and communication skills. Instruction in magnet classes is at a rigorous pre-AP level. Students are expected to complete above grade-level assignments, both in class and for independent practice. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts. The successful magnet ELA student will be prepared to bypass Honors English 9 and enter into Honors English 10 at the North Hagerstown High International Baccalaureate Programme.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the WCPS Magnet Program at Boonsboro, E. Russell Hicks, Northern, or Western Heights Middle Schools.

CREATIVE WRITING

130                              Grade Level 6-8

Creative Writing courses offer students the opportunity to develop and improve their technique and individual style in poetry, short story, drama, essays, and other forms of prose. The emphasis of the courses is on writing; however, students may study exemplary representations and authors to obtain a fuller appreciation of the form and craft. Although most creative writing classes cover several expressive forms, others concentrate exclusively on one particular form (such as poetry or playwriting).

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 7

107                              Grade Level 7

English Language Arts 7 is a standard course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards. Language Arts (grade 7) courses build upon students’ prior knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, word usage, and the mechanics of writing, and include the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Courses use various genres of literature to improve reading skills, and they link writing exercises for different purposes to those reading selections. Units of study may emphasize the use of language for different effects, in different contexts, and for different purposes. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts.

MERIT ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 7

117                              Grade Level 7

Merit English Language Arts 7 is a rigorous course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards. This course utilizes pre-Advanced Placement (AP) strategies and is designed to prepare students for the challenges posed by Advanced Placement English courses in high school. Language Arts (grade 7) courses build upon students’ prior knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, word usage, and the mechanics of writing, and include the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Courses use various genres of literature to improve reading skills, and they link writing exercises for different purposes to those reading selections. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts.

MAGNET ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 7

117MG                        Grade Level 7

Magnet English Language Arts 7 is a rigorous course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards and is designed for gifted readers and writers. Best practices from gifted education and Advanced Placement (AP) strategies are used to deliver content. Research-based gifted education resources, such as those from the College of William and Mary, are woven into the WCPS Essential Curriculum ELA Standards. Projects and topics often overlap Magnet Social Studies and units integrate the school’s WCPS Magnet Program Theme. This course is designed to prepare students for the challenges posed by Advanced Placement English courses in high school. Students independently read significantly complex works of fiction and literary nonfiction, applying strategies for text annotation, to prepare them for a rich analysis of the texts for content, organization, and language. Research and writing serve to support the analysis of literary and informational texts. Research exercises focus on evaluating the relevance of several sources to select those that most sufficiently address the research questions. Writing exercises focus on refining individual use of the writing process, with specific attention to editing and revision. Integrated grammar and vocabulary study enhance students’ comprehension and communication skills. Instruction in merit classes is at a rigorous pre-AP level. Students are expected to complete above grade-level assignments, both in class and for independent practice. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts. The successful magnet ELA student will be prepared to bypass Honors English 9 and enter into Honors English 10 at the North Hagerstown High International Baccalaureate Programme.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the WCPS Magnet Program at Boonsboro, E. Russell Hicks, Northern, or Western Heights Middle Schools.

CREATIVE WRITING

130                              Grade Level 6-8

Creative Writing courses offer students the opportunity to develop and improve their technique and individual style in poetry, short story, drama, essays, and other forms of prose. The emphasis of the courses is on writing; however, students may study exemplary representations and authors to obtain a fuller appreciation of the form and craft. Although most creative writing classes cover several expressive forms, others concentrate exclusively on one particular form (such as poetry or playwriting).

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 8

108                              Grade Level 8

English Language Arts 8 is a standard course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards. Language Arts (grade 8) courses build upon students’ prior knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, word usage, and the mechanics of writing, and include the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Courses use various genres of literature to improve reading skills, and they link writing exercises for different purposes to those reading selections. Units of study may emphasize the use of language for different effects, in different contexts, and for different purposes. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts.

MERIT ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 8

118                              Grade Level 8

Merit English Language Arts 8 is a rigorous course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards. This course utilizes pre-Advanced Placement (AP) strategies and is designed to prepare students for the challenges posed by Advanced Placement English courses in high school. Language Arts (grade 8) courses build upon students’ prior knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, word usage, and the mechanics of writing, and include the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Courses use various genres of literature to improve reading skills, and they link writing exercises for different purposes to those reading selections. Units of study may emphasize the use of language for different effects, in different contexts, and for different purposes. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts.

MAGNET ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 8

118MG                        Grade Level 8

Magnet English Language Arts 8 is a rigorous course of study that is aligned with Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards and is designed for gifted readers and writers. Best practices from gifted education and Advanced Placement (AP) strategies are used to deliver content. Research-based gifted education resources, such as those from the College of William and Mary, are woven into the WCPS Essential Curriculum ELA Standards. Projects and topics often overlap Magnet Social Studies and units integrate the school’s WCPS Magnet Program Theme. This course is designed to prepare students for the challenges posed by Advanced Placement English courses in high school. Students independently read significantly complex works of fiction and literary nonfiction, using annotation strategies to monitor their thinking and develop questions to guide analysis. Those self-selected questions serve as the basis for evaluation of texts for content, organization, and language. Research and writing serve to support the analysis of literary and informational texts. Research exercises focus on evaluating the credibility and accuracy of several sources to develop a larger, contextual understanding about the issue under investigation. Writing exercises focus on demonstrating command of the writing process, with emphasis on producing written work in which they have selected, organized, and analyzed relevant content for a range of audiences and purposes. Integrated grammar and vocabulary study enhance students’ comprehension and communication skills. Instruction in this magnet classes is at a rigorous pre-AP level. Students are expected to complete above grade-level assignments, both in class and for independent practice. Toward the end of each school year, students take the MCAP English Language Arts and Literacy assessments, which are focused on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for each grade level. Students read literary and informational passages and engage in multi-media such as video or audio pieces in order to demonstrate their reading comprehension and literacy skills through responding to text-based questions and writing prompts. The successful magnet ELA

student will be prepared to bypass Honors English 9 and enter into Honors English 10 at the North Hagerstown High International Baccalaureate Programme.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the WCPS Magnet Program at Boonsboro, E. Russell Hicks, Northern, or Western Heights Middle Schools.

CREATIVE WRITING

130                              Grade Level 6-8

Creative Writing courses offer students the opportunity to develop and improve their technique and individual style in poetry, short story, drama, essays, and other forms of prose. The emphasis of the courses is on writing; however, students may study exemplary representations and authors to obtain a fuller appreciation of the form and craft. Although most creative writing classes cover several expressive forms, others concentrate exclusively on one particular form (such as poetry or playwriting).

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE SUBJECT GROUP COURSES

The following courses are offered only at Northern Middle School. Discover more about the IB MYP at Northern Middle School by reading the Signature Programs Descriptions section. Each of these Grades 6, 7, 8 courses are part of the Language and Literature Subject Group. The Language and Literature Subject Group is one of the 8 MYP Subjects in which MYP students must participate. These courses include the content of the foundational courses that are similarly-named on the preceding pages. Additionally, the curriculum includes the following components:

o   Key Concepts and Related Concepts, such as Perspective and Style, that are explored over an MYP student’s time in the Programme.

o   Global Contexts, such as Fairness & Development and Identities & Relationships.

o   Approaches to Learning skills, such as Self-Management and Communication Skills.

o   Statements of Inquiry, which allow the students to explore the content and skills through a conceptual lens.

MYP Language and Literature

MYP106                      Grade Level 6

MYP107                      Grade Level 7

MYP108                      Grade Level 8

MYP Merit Language and Literature

MYP116                      Grade Level 6

MYP117                      Grade Level 7

MYP118                      Grade Level 8

MYP Magnet Language and Literature

MYP116MG                Grade Level 6

MYP117MG                Grade Level 7

MYP118MG                Grade Level 8