Reading and writing serve and reflect diverse needs, purposes, and interests, ranging from the personal to the public, the practical to the aesthetic. As English and Language Arts teachers, we want our students to recognize and appreciate this variety. By helping them develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, we hope that students will value literacy because it . . .
*Is essential to effective communication
*Facilitates learning
*Stimulates and extends critical thinking and intellectual growth
*Provides pleasure and entertainment by challenging and rewarding us
*Encourages thoughtful reflection and careful articulation
*Promotes understanding and appreciation of self and others
*Employs the language arts for lifelong learning, work, and enjoyment
Additionally, we believe that effective instruction is . . .
*Student centered
*Challenging
*Process-oriented
*Sequential
*Developmentally appropriate
*Carefully planned
*Designed to appeal to a variety of learning styles
*Reflective of the current research in multiple intelligences and brain-based
learning
*Aligned to the State of Connecticut Language Arts Frameworks
*Designed to meet CMT expectations
Hall High School's English curriculum comprises full-year freshman and sophomore courses plus a variety of full-year and semester electives for juniors and seniors. While courses vary in content, focus, and level of difficulty, these skills--literature and language study, writing, and critical thinking--receive careful attention in every course. In addition to helping students develop interest and proficiency in these areas, English teachers provide students with extended and individual assistance through the Writing Resource Center, teacher-student conferences, portfolio work, and state and SAT test preparation.
After completing the required English 9 and English 10 courses, students choose among the elective offerings for a program suitable to their interests and needs. To meet district and state requirements, all students must earn credit for eight semesters of English (4 English credits). Three of those credits must be earned in any full-year literature-based courses. All English courses have a summer reading requirement.
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