The goal of our language arts curriculum is to ensure that every student has a firm foundation in phonemic awareness, comprehension, grammar, writing, vocabulary and spelling.  We work with our students to develop strong reading, writing and speaking skills in order for them to be effective communicators. For middle school students, our language arts curriculum includes rigorous coursework in communication skills, reading, and literature. Currently, we offer a regular as well as advanced track for both English/Language Arts as well as Literature.

English/Language Arts

In our language arts classes, writing skills are honed through extensive work on grammar and usage, parts of speech and sentence structure.  Students learn a variety of writing styles and approaches and are encouraged to focus on both content and delivery.  St. Joe’s middle school students learn how to plan, revise, edit and publish clear and effective writing.  Students further develop their research, study, and speaking skills. 

Reading & Literature

In our reading and literature classes, students are expected to apply their language skills to increasingly challenging material.  Our instructors teach literary elements such as setting, plot, characterization, conflict, point of view, theme and tone.
 
Examples of short stories, novels, poetry and plays at each grade level include:

• 6^th grade:  The Westing Game, Where the Red Fern Grows, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World, Number the Stars, The Breadwinner, Hatchet

• 7^th grade:  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Outsiders, The Hobbit, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,  And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express

• 8^th grade:  Greek Mythology, The Adventures of Ulysses, Of Mice and Men, Fahrenheit 451, Bomb, To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, The Great Escape