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 English/Language Arts Course Descriptions 

​Please note that we offer one level of language arts for elementary grades 2-3 and 4-5, two levels of language arts for middle school (advanced and regular) and two levels of English for high school (honors and regular).  If you have questions about which level is appropriate, please contact the teacher.  Our middle and high school classes are multi-grade level.  Middle school is 6-8, and high school is 9-12.  We do allow students to move up or down (i.e. 8th grader in high school or 9th grader in middle, honors or regular) at the teacher's discretion.  
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High School ​

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Honors English: British Literature and Composition--Mrs. Mellichamp (This class has a 3 year rotation--American, British, World) 

  • By reading, discussing and evaluating the works of authors which have endured as classics of literature, students will enter the “Great Conversation”.

  • We will consider each work of literature in light of the author’s purpose and worldview, the prevailing cultural and philosophical ideas of the period, and the art and music it produced.  

  • Students will be challenged to become competent communicators, writing with proper structure, style, and grace using IEW based materials, but encouraged to develop their own personal flare. 

  • Students will practice the essay and the research paper, model and write poetry and produce literary critiques of selected literature.

  • Since this class is honors level and incorporates Advanced Placement vocabulary and skills, it is excellent preparation for dual enrollment and college. 

  • This year's focus will be authors from the British Isles.

 

Literary Works​

  • *Beowulf   translated by Seamus Heaney  ISBN 978-0-37411-119-9 (Class set for rent; no need to buy)

  • *Canterbury Tales: A Quintet   Edited by Michael Murphy  ISBN 978-1-55452-734-2 ( Class set of this book for rent)

  • *Sir Gawain and the Green Knight   translated by Simon Armitage ISBN 978-0-393-33415-9

  • *Julius Caesar   Shakespeare  (Barron’s Shakespeare Made Easy) ISBN 978-0-8120-3573-5

  • Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

  • A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

  • The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

  • The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding  

  • Various poems provided by teacher from the following:

John Donne,Ben Jonson,Robert Herrick, George Herbert,John Milton,William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Robert Browning, etc.

  • 2 inch, 3 ring notebook with dividers

  • IEW Book TBD

*Please order using the ISBN number so that we will all have the same book.

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Writing Assignments

  • Literary Critique

  • Descriptive Essay

  • Biographical Essay

  • Persuasive Essay

  • Super Research Essay

  • Letters (personal, editorial)

  • Poetry

  • Modeling

 

*Please order using the ISBN number so that we will all have the same book.  This information will be sent after enrollment.

     

 
Regular English: British Literature and Composition--Mrs. Mellichamp (3 year rotation: American, British, World)
This class will meet the requirement for standard high school English I-IV with literature and writing chosen to challenge students as they apply writing skills and evaluate literature. 
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Required Materials:​

Structure and Style for Students, Year 2, Level B.  Purchase latest edition of student packet from IEW: https://iew.com/structure-and-style-for-students-year-2-level-b-binder-student-packet​

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Novels/Short Stories/Poetry:

  • Excerpt from Beowulf

  • Excerpt from The Canterbury Tales

  • Julius Caesar   Shakespeare  (Barron’s Shakespeare Made Easy) ISBN 978-0-8120-3573-5

  • The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

  • The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding  

  • Various poems provided by teacher

  • 2 inch, 3 ring notebook with divider

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Middle School ​


Advanced IEW​/Lang Arts Class (Rotation-Medieval History-Based) (This class has a 3 year rotation.) Mrs. Mellichamp

Using materials from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, we will practice the style, structure, and grammar of writing. Vocabulary and grammar are included. Writing assignments include the following: description, narration, summarizing from various sources, short story, reports, basic essay, literary critique/response, newspaper based on novel, and poetry—modeling and original.  More challenging assignments will be balanced with fun and creative writing. We will read and discuss the novels listed below along with various short stories and poems, learning how to recognize literary elements (plot, setting, theme, etc.) as well as consider the purpose of the author and his worldview along with the art and culture of the time period.  

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Required Materials:

  • Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons by Lori Verstegan, student copy purchased from IEW: https://iew.com/medieval-history-based-writing-lessons-student-book-only

  • 2 inch binder with dividers and paper

  • Grammar: Fix It! Grammar Level 6 Frog Prince (1/2 completed this year)   Please purchase the latest edition of the student book and teacher book (2022) from IEW or Amazon.

  • Access to a computer and printer

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Novels:

  • Black Horses for the King—Anne McCaffrey

  • Shadow Spinner—Susan Fletcher

  • Son of Charlemagne—Barbara Willar

  • A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver—Konigsburg

  • The Kite Rider—Geraldine McCaughrean

  • Crispin: The Cross of Lead—Avi

  • The Second Mrs. Giaconda—E.L. Konigsburg

  • The Samurai’s Tale—Erik Christian Haugaard

Writing Includes:

  • Description

  • Narration

  • Summarizing from various sources

  • Short story

  • Reports

  • Basic essay

  • Literary Critique/Response

  • Newspaper based on novel

  • Poetry—modeling and original

More challenging assignments will be balanced with lighter, fun and creative writing. 

 

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Regular IEW/Language Arts (Rotation: Medieval History Based) (This class has a 3 year rotation.) (Mrs. Mellichamp) 

Using materials from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, we will practice the style, structure, and grammar of writing. Students will also engage with imaginative literature and practice the basics of literary evaluation and critique.  Vocabulary and grammar are included.  (This class moves at bit slower pace than the advanced class.)

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Required Materials:

Novels​

  • Black Horses for the King—Anne McCaffrey

  • A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver—Konigsburg

  • The Kite Rider—Geraldine McCaughrean

  • Crispin: The Cross of Lead—Avi

  • The Second Mrs. Giaconda—E.L. Konigsburg

 

Elementary School 

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4-5th IEW/Language Arts 2--Mrs. Crawford (This class has a 2 year rotation.)

Explore a wide variety of fascinating subjects in Adventures in Writing! In this theme-based writing curriculum, students write about adventurous topics such as Roman hoplites, tornadoes, Leif Eriksson, and other interesting subjects while they learn to write with the Structure and Style® writing method.   This is full language arts class which provides instruction in writing, literature, and grammar.  It does not teach reading or phonics. 

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Supplies

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2nd-3rd IEW/Language Arts 2--Mrs. Crawford 

Designed to be the earliest introduction to the IEW method, we will use the book People and Places in Our Community, by Jill Pike, along with picture books to develop a love for writing and literature in these younger grades.  This class is structured to be fun, with games and read-aloud time each week, along with instruction in the first steps of writing. 

 

Skill Level

  • Students should be able to print.  Cursive is not necessary

  • Students must be able to read. All the books will be read aloud, but reading is essential to complete the writing assignments. 

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Supplies

  • People and Places in Our Community by Jill Pike; purchase from IEW: https://iew.com/people-and-places-in-our-community-student-book

  • Notebook and paper—Ruled according to your child’s level

  • Pencils/erasers

  • Book list is taken from the suggestions found in the Scope and Sequence of the textbook plus several added.  See below.

  • Books we will read aloud in class this year: (It’s helpful if students have copies so they can follow along as we read in class and can re-read at home if desired.)

 

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Katy and the Big Snow

Miss Nelson is Missing

The Flying Hockey Stick

Tootle

Seven Little Postmen

Jennifer and Josephine

Maybelle the Cable Car

Madeline

Curious George Goes to the Hospital

Madeline's Rescue

Earthquakes (by Seymore Simon)

Curious George

The Velveteen Rabbit

Sam, Bangs, and Moonshine

Doctor De Soto

Brave Irene

Make Way for the Duckings

Stuart Little

Giants Come in Different Sizes

Grandpa’s Corner Store

When I Grow Up

The BFG

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©2012 The Regent Academy

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