English Language Arts

English Language Arts (ELA) and Reading Department

Brian Hart, Grade 7 ELA

Neil Kulick, Grade 6 ELA

Joseph Lawlor, Grade 6 ELA

Tiffany Marchbanks, Grade 6 & 7 ELA

Debi Peterson, Grade 8 ELA

Maureen Scott, Grade 6 ELA

Program Overview

In their Language Arts and Reading classes, students gain practice in reading carefully and writing with precision and grace. The readings are mostly fiction, and many of the titles concern matters important to emerging adolescents – discovering and affirming one’s identity, for example, or the power of friendship. Students’ writing takes many forms, including personal or creative essays, poems, and analytical writing in which the student stakes out a position and supports it with evidence. Much class time is devoted to discussions in which students learn to speak thoughtfully and listen attentively to others.