Middle School Language Arts

Literature 8th Grade
Mrs. Laura Vaporean

The students will practice their reading and comprehension skills via the use of four different genres. They will primarily read independently and will partake in class discussions, writing assignments, and regular assessments. Skills include the following: Learn and use reading strategies, make connections, analyze authors’ purpose, support conclusions with evidence from text, interpret text through  literal/inferential/interpretive inquiry, analyze meaning in context, develop academic vocabulary, summarize and respond to literature.

• Poetry and Short Stories, text and workbook published by Memoria Press
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• As You Like It by William Shakespeare
• Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt 

Literature 7th Grade
Ms. Anna Catalano

This course seeks to promote enthusiasm for reading by engaging the students with stories of personal growth and adventure. The primary focus will be on oral reading to expose the students to grammar and vocabulary. There will also be an emphasis on in-class discussion in order to challenge students to reflect and analyze what they have read.

• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
• Anne of Green Gables by Elizabeth Maude Montgomery
• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame  

Literature 6th Grade
Ms. Anna Catalano

This course seeks to promote enthusiasm for reading by engaging the students with stories of personal growth and adventure. The primary focus will be on oral reading to expose the students to grammar and vocabulary. There will also be an emphasis on in-class discussion in order to challenge students to reflect and analyze what they have read.

• The Trojan War by Olivia Coolidge
• The Children’s Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy by Padraic Colum
• The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Writing 6th , 7th and 8th Grades
Ms. Anna Catalano and Mr. Steve Notestine

Students will be learning and practicing the skill of writing using the Excellence in Writing program. Each student will follow a structured process to learn to be a competent writer. The priority of the program focuses on writing a composition containing basic elements of structure and style. Each sample from the student requires: an outline, a rough draft, and a edited final draft. Students will have their work reviewed after each stage. Each student will keep and contribute to a personal writing binder: All IEW material will be accounted for within this personal binder.

Also included in this course is vocabulary practice. Students will participate in activities surrounding appropriate and effective word choices. The emphasis will be on verbs, adjectives, adverbs, adverbial clauses, adjectival clauses, noun clauses and an overall concentration of improvement of their current vocabulary. In addition, students will practice editing skills. They will complete a “Daily Edit” by applying proper editing marks for a specific paragraph issued by the teacher.

• Excellence in Writing, Institute for Excellence in Writing
• Everyday Edits, Education World  

Traditional Logic 7th/ 8th Grade
Ms. Elizabeth Citrowske

These courses are an introduction to the classical syllogism of traditional logic, and some of the formal fallacies. The advantage of traditional formal logic is that it teaches students a systematic, orderly way of thinking. It introduces them to the concept of truth as something that we can grasp with our intellects, and that we can infer complex truths from simple, self-evident truths.

• Traditional Logic: Introduction to Formal Logic by Martin Cothran, published by Memoria Press.  

Grammar 6th/7th/8th Grade; Spelling 6th Grade
Ms. Elizabeth Citrowske and Mrs. Laura Vaporean

The purpose of this course is to increase the student’s knowledge of English by regular drills in spelling and grammar. Every week and a half the students complete a spelling lesson and are tested on their knowledge. Every 2-3 weeks they are quizzed on the grammar rules that are being discussed in class. A variety of study and memorization techniques are presented to the students in an effort to help them understand their unique learning style.

• Spelling by Sound and Structure published by Rod and Staff
• English for Young Catholics 6, English for Young Catholics 7, English for Young Catholics 8 by Seton Press
• English Grammar Recitation Student Workbook published by Memoria Press
• Core Skills Language Arts published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt