English

The English Department offers a strong program of wide ranging literature from diverse voices that act as both windows to and mirrors of students’ own lives. With the help of regular, meaningful feedback, we intend for students to accomplish the following in all of our offerings:

Learn to read with greater insight, empathy, and pleasure through a broad range of genres and formats including novels, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novels, articles, short stories, plays, and mixed media.
Read texts that reflect a more complete and nuanced understanding of what is considered “canon.”
Engage with texts in multiple models including whole class texts and small group lit circles.
Experience texts that reflect both characters and authors of diverse identities; that reflect students’ own experiences; and that allow students to see, know, understand, and empathize with people, cultures, and experiences different from their own.
See themselves reflected in curriculum materials and learn perspective-taking skills to support their learning when others’ experiences are amplified.
Continue to grow in their ability to deepen and expand their critical thinking, to focus and organize their ideas, and to support their reasoning with coherent arguments and specific evidence.
Learn to plan, draft, revise, edit, and reflect upon their progress and take responsibility for their own work, recognizing that writing, as well as reading, is a process.
Engage with learning opportunities that value student choice and increase students’ ability to self-select appropriate levels of support and challenge, taking ownership over their own learning.
Demonstrate their learning through a wide variety of assessments, including analytical, personal, critical, and creative writing; individual and group projects and presentations; journals, ruminations, and reflections; and both small-group and full-class discussions.
Work to collaborate, listen, discuss, and to be flexible in their thinking and opinions.
Learn to see the world as thinkers and to engage with timely and timeless issues that shape our lives.

Students are required to take an English course each of their four years at Newton North in order to meet the 48-credit requirement. For those students interested in pursuing English-related topics beyond the requirements, a variety of electives are offered as well.

Scope, Sequence, and Course Placement Philosophy:

Newton North has a commitment to opportunity, access, and excellence for all students. The scope and sequence of courses in each department is designed to support these overarching goals. Courses include an articulation of content and skills that can be developed and learned within a developmentally appropriate community of learners at each grade level. The curriculum is designed to support the continuous academic, social, and skill development growth for all students. All students are appropriately challenged and supported both in terms of the work in individual classes and more broadly across a student’s schedule. As students consider their course load, we support them in finding an appropriate level of stretch and balance within their classes.

Grade Level Courses

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

In this final year of high school English, students explore storytelling and voice in a personal essay unit. For the remainder of their coursework, students will complete a curriculum based on the specific content area of the course. In the fourth quarter, all students will complete an extensive senior project focused on an area of study within their chosen course. All students will also assemble an English Portfolio containing selections of their work throughout their four years of study, culminating in a written or recorded reflection on their growth as readers, writers, and thinkers.

Students entering grade 12 take one of the course listed for grade 12. Multi-level courses are offered at ACP/CP or ACP/H levels to appropriately challenge and support all students enrolled.

English Electives

The English department also offers a variety of elective offerings for students wishing to pursue further study in a particular area of interest. All of the courses are meant to complement, support, and enrich students’ work in our four-year program of studies. (Electives do not typically count toward the 48-credit English requirement. However, in some rare circumstances, and with department head approval, an elective course may fulfill the English requirement.) All English elective classes may be used to meet the overall graduation requirement.

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English Opportunities

English

English 9

Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: CP, ACP
Course Number: 101/100

In this first year of high school English, students explore literature from various voices, cultures, and experiences to examine, understand, and celebrate their multidimensional identities.

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