Secondary English Language Arts
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Our middle school English program focuses on expanding student knowledge and abilities in the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students will read a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts including plays, short stories, novels, and poems. As students engage in the reading of these texts, emphasis will be placed on evaluating and analyzing to form a deeper meaning of the author's words. In addition, students in each grade level will develop their writing skills further through the writing process. The writing process includes prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing a final written piece. These pieces of written work will include a narrative, argumentative and research-based informational writing piece. Enrichment opportunities are provided within the sixth grade ELA daily classroom structure. Mid-way through sixth grade, students are considered for enrollment in our 7th and 8th grade enriched English courses. The Middle School is a 1:1 environment in which students can support and enhance their learning through the use of a district-issued laptop. Our English teachers utilize these devices in a variety of ways in order to encourage our students to be college and career ready and develop 21st-century skills.
The Gates Chili High School English program is focused on providing relevant and rigorous instruction in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Instruction in each grade level is guided by the New York State Next Generation Standards. Students are exposed to fiction, non-fiction, and informational text, and they are exposed to the writing process through narrative, creative, informational, analytical, and argument writing. Also, students engage in researched-based experiences within each grade level. Grades 9 and 10 culminate with a final exam modeled after the NYS Regents Exam. Grade 11 culminates with the NYS Regents exam while all students in Grade 12 must complete the district’s Senior Research Project by the end of the year. Students in NYS are required to successfully complete four years of high school English and to pass the NYS Regents exam before graduating.
Our 9-12 program provides experiences and content which connect to current events, real-world lessons, and personal life-skills. We consistently provide rich and diverse instruction by incorporating cooperative learning, meaningful technology use, and rigorous and multifaceted activities. Department members are committed to professional development in an effort to continually enhance our teaching practices. Enrichment opportunities for all students are offered through our Honors Program Grades 9-11, dual credit opportunities in Humanities 12, AP Literature, AP Language and Composition, and through our offering of Creative Writing and Public Speaking electives. See the Program of Studies link below for a brief description of each course offered in our English Department.
