“During adolescence, youngsters construct a sense of personal identity. It is a time for tying on selves, for reflection, self-awareness, and self-definition. The adolescent learns to say, “this is my story" and "This is who I am."
- Lucy McCormick Calkins

Sixth Grade Courses

English 6th/Literacy 6th

All Language Arts (English) classes at Standley are for a two-period block of time. The general education class at this level is identified as Eng/Lit 6th. At the 6th grade-level, there are also specific two-period block classes for English Learners (ELD EG/LT 6th BK), GATE Cluster (ENG/LIT 6th CL) and GATE Seminar (ENG/LIT 6th SM) students. The 6th grade English course curriculum focuses on the advancement of students’ literacy skills. These include their ability to analyze, identify, define, explain, and critique with an increased focus on advanced forms of evaluation in expository critique and literary criticism. The curriculum also includes a more advanced recognition and presentation of problems and solutions over what was taught in fifth grade. The goal is to meet the Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening Standards for 6th grade in the California State Standards Framework.  To accomplish this goal, we will use a “Readers’/Writers’ Workshop” instructional format, which will help us form a community to support each other in meeting the state standards.

English/Literacy 6th Cluster & Seminar (GATE)

These are 6th grade, two-period Genre Studies courses for GATE-identified students. These one-year courses engage students in a curriculum that provides an integrated study of reading, writing, speaking, and listening to enhance and further develop the students’ skills in these areas. Through inquiry-based lessons, students will develop skills that meet grade-level literacy standards through the “Readers’/Writers’ Workshop” model.  The “Readers’/Writers’ Workshop” utilizes several instructional strategies.

Seventh Grade Courses

English 7th

English 7th is a standards-based course offering study of both literature and written language techniques and is designed for students testing at grade-level in Language Arts (English).  Students in this class mainly study the literature included in the state-adopted literature anthology, Prentice Hall Literature:  Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes Bronze Level.  In addition, they are expected to read grade-level text both in class and independently.  Moreover, students in this class will respond to text both orally and in writing.  Teachers encourage students to connect the literature they read in class to other texts, to themselves, and to the world around them.  Another focus of this course is a strong writing program.  Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in writing a variety of essay genres such as response to literature, summary, persuasive, and research report.

English 7th Cluster (GATE)

English 7th Cluster is a one-year course offering in-depth study of both literature and written language techniques that are specifically designed to challenge students who are identified in the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE).  In addition to studying text in the state-adopted literature anthology, students in this class will be exposed to supplemental text, both fiction and non-fiction, that is more advanced.  They are expected to respond to text critically, and to make connections across a variety of texts, connections to themselves, and connections to the world around them.  Moreover, Cluster students are expected to show their understanding and analysis of text through sophisticated writing, discussion, and speaking.  Another focus of this course is a strong writing program.  Students are expected to demonstrate above grade-level proficiency in writing a variety of compositions, and are evaluated according to their ideas/content, organization, voice, sentence fluency, and conventions.  While based on the California Language Arts Standards, the curriculum in this class is differentiated to be more complex and faster paced than regular classes.

English 7th Seminar (GATE)
English 7th Seminar offers Seminar-identified students a differentiated course of study in both literature and writing.  Elements of literacy analysis, persuasive argument, and research are important components of the curriculum.  The learning environment is student-centered in order to help students develop as independent, critical thinkers.  The writing program introduces students to the forms and patterns of analysis and argument. Students also write a research paper and incorporate basic research standards.

Eighth Grade Courses

English 8th

English 8th is a standards-based course that offers instruction in both reading and writing. Students are exposed to a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, as well as poetry and expository text. Text analysis takes place through class discussion and other student-centered activities which are designed to develop higher order thinking skills. The teaching of language conventions are and composition are incorporated into the writing program along with the specific writing skills for literary analysis, persuasive argument, and research reports. There is also a strong vocabulary program. 

English 8th Cluster (GATE)

English 8th Cluster is standards-based language arts course that offers GATE identified students a differentiated study in both literature, expository text, and writing techniques. Teaching strategies stress student inquiry and discussion activities that allow for complexity and depth in the students’ growth as learners. The reading program is rigorous. Students engage in activities that assist them in becoming thoughtful and proficient readers. The writing program is challenging. Students are taught rhetorical approaches to literary analysis and persuasive argument, as well as techniques in writing research reports based on a well developed thesis. Language conventions and editing skills are also included in the students’ study of effective written communication.

English 8th Seminar (GATE)
English 8th Seminar is a one-year course offering GATE Seminar-identified students a differentiated in-depth study of both literature and written language techniques. Inquiry-based literature units are thematically based in order to examine the development and connections among important ideas and motifs. Complexity and depth in the student's learning are emphasized both through advanced course content, teaching strategies, and student assignments. Important building blocks of this course include a rigorous reading program consisting of fiction, non-fiction, expository text, and poetry. A challenging and self-broadening writing program of literary analysis, persuasive and expository approaches, and research are a central component of the course. Language conventions, editing, and word study in preparation for SAT are also emphasized. Students have many opportunities to express themselves through discussion and oral presentations. Teaching strategies are further differentiated from GATE Cluster through compacting of curriculum, and an emphasis on problem solving, creativity, and novelty in a student-centered environment; in order to maximize the development of higher order thinking skills and to promote and instill a sense of independence and curiosity as learners.