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493 Newark Pompton Tpke - Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
Phone: (973) 616-6050

PV

Academic English and English Honors Philosophy

At both the Academic and Honors/Enriched levels, the middle school language arts curriculum encourages students to challenge themselves to be learners and doers. We work towards enabling students of communicate effectively in different settings and through the use of varied approaches so as to better equip students with the necessary linguistic skills for the future. As a solid secondary education pushes ahead, we help students to develop critical thinking skills, cultural understanding, collaboration strategies, and a positive attitude toward becoming a lifelong learner. Our emphasis on a multi-dimensional program offers every student the opportunity to explore many possibilities for developing excellence in English skills.

Vision

An education in English at PV fosters a student to:

  • Be a lifelong learner
  • Utilize critical thinking skills
  • Become culturally aware
  • Embrace diversity
  • Explore English on a multidimensional level

Academic English 6, 7 and 8

Students use oral language, written language, and media and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes. Students also explore the structure of language and study grammatical rules in order to speak and write effectively. Students critically analyze print and non-print communication, and interpret and evaluate a wide variety of literature. As readers, speakers, listeners, and writers, student use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and communicate information.

  • The English curriculum covers multiple facets of language arts.
  • Students work to further develop existing communication skills through the study of literature, reading strategies, process writing, and presentation skills.
  • A writer's workshop approach is utilized to aid students in the development, practice, and internalization of effective writing strategies and skills.
  • Students explore the English language, and use their knowledge of grammar and word choice to improve writing. From simple editing and combining sentences to producing varied forms of essay and narrative writing, students are challenged to increase and better their writing skills.
  • The reading program includes the use of a literature anthology, class novels, informational pieces, genre studies, poetry, supplementary materials, and self-selected readings.
  • While reading novels students build a list of literary terms and examine such literary elements as plot, setting, point of view, character, and theme.
  • Students also develop higher level thinking skills by evaluating, comparing and contrasting, and analyzing cause and effect. All of these skills are taught using a variety of methods including class discussion, cooperative group activities, differentiation of instruction, and individual assignments designed to challenge each student.
  • In each of six units, students complete writing assignments or creative projects to apply these new skills and literary terms. In addition, each unit generates a vocabulary list for students to explore words in new ways.
  • Finally, students study verbal communication, practice public speaking skills, interact with 21st Century technology skills, and continue to learn organizational and study habits as they prepare for high school and beyond.

English Honors Grades 7 and 8

English Honors is designed for students who have clearly demonstrated advanced levels of interest and achievement in the subject area. These students need to possess a strong sense of self-motivation and a high maturity level of thought and association. A student of English Honors needs to be able to assimilate and synthesize at a quicker pace than the Academic English student. English Honors is differentiated by the quality, depth, and pace of work expected rather than merely the quantity. Different novel choices are offered to students and a focus on academic/creative writing skills are used to prepare students for a variety of high-stakes tests including the NJASK, PSAT and the SAT.

Course pre-requisites and/or co-requisites:

Student entrance into English Honors is based on a rubric which included the following criteria:

  • English teacher rating of ability; This rating is based mostly on the natural ability of the student in the varied areas of a language arts curriculum, with a focus on reading level, ability to express him or herself in a variety of written genres, and critical thinking skills.
  • Previous year’s English class average
  • Core teachers rating of overall motivation; A student traveling at the honors' level in middle school is expected to give his or her best in all classes.
  • A NJASK-style writing sample. A timed, unannounced writing sample is given to all students in sixth and seventh-grade. This sample is used to help in judging a student’s ability to handle the rigor of the writing assignments in the honors level class. The NJASK holistic rubric is used to judge the writing sample.
  • NJASK scores from two previous years. Students who place in advanced proficient take the first priority for entrance into the higher level class.
  • Intelligence testing. An intelligence test is given once in sixth grade, and will be used as a reference when considering entrance into honors' level classes.