Language Arts

The Language Arts program in the Middle School emphasizes the continued development of individual student mastery of reading, writing and listening skills. From the rudiments of language acquisition, students now move on to the skills of writing, listening and speaking and to practical, operational exercises in which they can utilize and apply these skills. There is a strong emphasis on grammar and the structure of language include spelling, vocabulary development and composition skills. The goal of the language arts program is to encourage the love of literature and the cultivation of a lifelong reading habit. Students are provided with carefully prepared reading lists and are constantly encouraged to pursue independent reading. Finally, through the scheduling of a double period of English every day, students are exposed to public speaking, debates class discussions and oral and written reports. The program is permeated with an emphasis on writing through a Writers' Workshop format.