English Language Arts

English Language Arts 9 (required)

Description: 

Curriculum and instruction support students in meeting Common Core State Standards including reading, shared reading, independent reading, modeled and guided writing, vocabulary study, collaborative group work, accountable talk, using textual evidence, and independent writing. All students develop as readers equipped with a variety of strategies that enhance their understanding, exploration, enjoyment, and appreciation of literature in a variety of genres and prepare them for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). In the context of the Massachusetts frameworks, students learn and apply their knowledge of the basic elements of different literary genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, myths, and informational texts. Using the writing process, students develop as independent writers equipped with a variety of strategies that allow them to compose effective pieces of writing for different purposes and audiences.In addition, all students are provided with support and opportunities to develop as critical and reflective thinkers. They develop their ability to acquire and use oral and written language effectively to express what they have learned and to share their ideas and perspectives on important issues in both formal and informal situations.

Reading & Writing Requirements:

  • Students are expected to read 4 novels per year from the school list, including 1 universally required text in each grade
  • Students are expected to read and respond to independent books, for which they will be held accountable.
  • Students are expected to read and respond to a series of whole class and reading group texts (e.g. series of periodicals or articles, manuals, collections of essays or poetry) each year. These texts must be from multiple genres, including fiction and non-fiction.
  • Students are expected to meet acceptable standards of writing as assessed by common rubrics.
  • Students are expected to keep an English notebook or binder (at the teacher’s discretion) where they have the opportunity to engage with texts, reflect on their writing, and write about what they are thinking and reading each day. A minimum of 4 essays will emerge from their notebooks and be taken through the complete writing process, including a seed idea, initial drafts, revisions, edits, and completion/publication. The work will be assessed using common rubrics.
  • Students are expected to read 4 novels per year from the school list, including 1 universally required text in each grade

Required Assessments: 2 Common Writing Assignments per term, BPS Interim Assessments, Research paper

Instructional Time:  minimum of 225 minutes during A week and 450 during B week

English 9 Honors BHCC

English 9 Honors extends the English 9 curriculum to include additional readings and a more sophisticated and in depth study of the literature read. It is expected that students are proficient in essay writing and demonstrate strong critical thinking skills. Because it is an honors course, students can expect a faster-paced, more demanding workload than that of a standard course.  

English Language Arts 10 (Required)

Description: 

Curriculum and instruction support students in meeting Common Core State Standards including reading, shared reading, independent reading, modeled and guided writing, vocabulary study, collaborative group work, accountable talk, using textual evidence, and independent writing. All students develop as readers equipped with a variety of strategies that enhance their understanding, exploration, enjoyment, and appreciation of literature in a variety of genres and prepare them for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). 

In the context of the Massachusetts frameworks, students learn and apply their knowledge of the basic elements of different literary genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, myths, and informational texts. Using the writing process, students develop as independent writers equipped with a variety of strategies that allow them to compose effective pieces of writing for different purposes and audiences.

In addition, all students are provided with support and opportunities to develop as critical and reflective thinkers. They develop their ability to acquire and use oral and written language effectively to express what they have learned and to share their ideas and perspectives on important issues in both formal and informal situations. 

Reading & Writing Requirements:

  • Students are expected to read and respond to independent books, for which they will be held accountable.
  • Students are expected to read and respond to a series of whole class and reading group texts (e.g. series of periodicals or articles, manuals, collections of essays or poetry) each year. These texts must be from multiple genres, including fiction and non-fiction.
  • Students are expected to meet acceptable standards of writing as assessed by common rubrics.
  • Students are expected to keep an English notebook or binder (at the teacher’s discretion) where they have the opportunity to engage with texts, reflect on their writing, and write about what they are thinking and reading each day. A minimum of 4 essays will emerge from their notebooks and be taken through the complete writing process, including a seed idea, initial drafts, revisions, edits, and completion/publication. The work will be assessed using common rubrics.

Required Assessments: 2 Common Writing Assignments per term, BPS Interim Assessments, Research Paper

Instructional Time:  minimum of 450 minutes during A week and 225 during B week

English 10 Honors

English 10 Honors extends the English 10 curriculum to include additional readings and a more sophisticated and in depth study of the literature read. It is expected that students are proficient in essay writing and demonstrate strong critical thinking skills. Because it is an honors course, students can expect a faster-paced, more demanding workload than that of a standard course.  

English Language Arts 11 (Required) 

Description: 

Curriculum and instruction support students in meeting Common Core State Standards including reading, shared reading, independent reading, modeled and guided writing, vocabulary study, collaborative group work, accountable talk, using textual evidence, and independent writing. All students develop as independent readers equipped with a variety of reading strategies that:

  • Enhance their understanding, exploration, enjoyment, and appreciation of literature in a variety of genres
  • Encourage deeper exploration of theme and author’s purpose

Facilitate exploration through lens and literary movements.In the context of the Massachusetts frameworks, students learn and apply their knowledge of the elements through different literary genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, myths, and informational texts. They make textual connections, and use the elements to interpret, analyze and evaluate the structure, language and ideas in the mandated literature they read. All students are also provided with strategies that will support test-taking skills on the SAT, ACT and other assessments. Using the writing cycle, students develop as independent writers equipped with a variety of strategies that allow them to compose effective pieces of writing for different purposes and audiences. In addition, all students are provided with support and opportunities to develop as critical and reflective thinkers. They develop their ability to acquire and use oral and written language effectively to express what they have learned and to share their ideas and perspectives on important issues in both formal and informal situations.

Reading & Writing Requirements: 

  • Students are expected to complete the school mandated list of required reading
  • Students are expected to read and respond to a series of independent books
  • Students are expected to read and respond to a series of shared “book equivalents” (e.g., series of periodicals or articles, manuals, collections of essays or poetry) each year. These works must be from multiple genres, including fiction and non-fiction.
  • Students are expected to keep an English notebook or binder (at the teacher’s discretion) where they have the opportunity to engage with text, think about their writing, and write about what they’re thinking and reading each day, A minimum of 4 essays will emerge from their notebooks and be taken through the writing process, including a seed idea, initial drafts, revisions, edits, completion/publication. The work will be assessed using a rubric. All of these works will be responses to complete works of literature.

Required Assessments: 2 Common Writing Assessments per term, BPS Interim Assessments, Research paper

 Instructional Time:  minimum of 450 minutes every other week

English 11 Honors

English 11 Honors extends the English 11 curriculum to include additional readings and a more sophisticated and in depth study of the literature read. It is expected that students are proficient in essay writing and demonstrate strong critical thinking skills. Because it is an honors course, students can expect a faster-paced, more demanding workload than that of a standard course.  

English Language Arts 12 (Required)

Instruction focuses on the instructional practices that support the Common Core State Standards including reading, shared reading, independent reading, modeled and guided writing, vocabulary study, collaborative and competitive group work, accountable talk, using textual evidence, and independent writing. All students develop as independent readers equipped with a variety of reading strategies that:

Description: 

Enhance their understanding, exploration, enjoyment, and appreciation of literature in a variety of genres

Encourage deeper exploration of theme and author’s purpose

Facilitate exploration through lens and literary movements. In the context of the Massachusetts frameworks, students learn and apply their knowledge of the elements through different literary genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, myths, and informational texts. They make textual connections, and use the elements to interpret, analyze and evaluate the structure, language and ideas in the mandated literature they read. All students are also provided with strategies that will support test-taking skills on the SAT, ACT and other assessments. Using the writing cycle, students develop as independent writers equipped with a variety of strategies that allow them to compose effective pieces of writing for different purposes and audiences. In addition, all students are provided with support and opportunities to develop as critical and reflective thinkers. They develop their ability to acquire and use oral and written language effectively to express what they have learned and to share their ideas and perspectives on important issues in both formal and informal situations.

Reading & Writing Requirements: 

  • Students are expected to complete the school mandated list of required reading
  • Students are expected to read and respond to a series of independent books
  • Students are expected to read and respond to a series of shared “book equivalents” (e.g., series of periodicals or articles, manuals, collections of essays or poetry) each year. These works must be from multiple genres, including fiction and non-fiction.
  • Students are expected to keep an English notebook or binder (at the teacher’s discretion) where they have the opportunity to engage with text, think about their writing, and write about what they’re thinking and reading each day, A minimum of 4 essays will emerge from their notebooks and be taken through the writing process, including a seed idea, initial drafts, revisions, edits, completion/publication. The work will be assessed using a rubric. All of these works will be responses to complete works of literature.

Required Assessments: 2 Common Writing Assessments, BPS Interim Assessments, Research paper 

Instructional Time: minimum of 450 minutes every other week 

AP Language & Composition – 12th Grade

Description: 

AP Language and Composition is a rigorous course, which requires students to read and analyze a range of fiction and nonfiction selections from various historical periods and cultures.  Close reading and responding to texts will help students to increase their understanding of rhetoric and language.  The focus of the course will be on rhetoric, the arguments that authors are making and the strategies that they use to effectively construct an argument for an intended purpose.  The readings and the writings of the course include essays, letters, speeches, fiction, and poems.  Students will also explore visual media including photographs, graphs, editorial cartoons, and film.  The reading and writing activities are designed to help students improve their analytical skills and help them to identify and explain an author’s use of rhetorical strategies, which they will apply to their own writings.

Reading and Writing Requirements:

Students are expected to…

  • Read from a variety of historical periods and disciplines
  • Identify audience, purpose, and strategies in text
  • Analyze the types of arguments that writers use
  • Write formally and informally for a variety of audiences
  • Write expository, analytical, and argumentative essays
  • Understand their own writing process and the importance of revision
  • Recognize techniques in visual as well as verbal arguments
  • Synthesize ideas and information from various sources
  • Know how to interpret information presented in notes and citations
  • Use the conventions of standard written English

Required Assessments:

  • The AP Language & Composition exam
  • AP practice exams
  • Argument, Rhetorical Analysis, and Synthesis essays connected to class readings
  • Quizzes and projects connected to class readings Instructional Time: The minimum time allocation is 450 minutes every other week.