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The objective of the Chapin School English program in grades
5 – 8 is to make each student a more responsive reader and a
more proficient writer. This includes a mastery of the
written word so that it is usable as a tool for expression,
both orally and in writing; the development of comprehension
skills which allow the student to derive meaning from and to
react to what is read; a fostering of critical thinking
through the analysis of literature; and the establishment of
life-long skills of reading.
The literature component is dynamic in its
flexibility and seeks to respond to the interests
and needs of each group of students. A variety
of literary genres is explored through the study of
novels, short stories, plays, poetry, and other
forms of writing, emphasizing the importance of
shared experiences through a multicultural selection
of materials. The methodology is equally
diverse, ranging from teacher-directed discussion
groups to self-selection.
The composition component blends the study of
grammar with the process of writing in an effort to
encourage students to become more independent,
responsible writers. Students are given
opportunities to explore both expository and
creative writing experiences.
Goals for English in Grades 5-8:
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develop independent, thoughtful readers
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introduce students to a variety of genres,
authors, and forms of literature
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provide opportunities to respond to literature
in creative/critical/active ways
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provide experiences in literary interpretation
while learning to respect the interpretations of
others
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extend awareness for and appreciation of diverse
cultures reflected in literature
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remain dynamic in response to individual
interests through experiences with new titles,
current events, and/or trends
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provide opportunities to practice language
skills in all areas of communication arts:
speaking, reading, listening, and writing
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provide opportunities for enriched vocabulary
development
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encourage the use of the 5-step Writing Process
of prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and
publishing as it relates to each specific
purpose
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develop an understanding of various purposes for
writing—descriptive, narrative, expository, and
persuasive
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experience a variety of forms of writing:
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personal—journals, letter writing
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creative—poetry, short stories, anecdotes
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expository—reports, research papers, essays,
news stories
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persuasive—essays, editorials, letter
writing
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provide a variety of meaningful activities which
encourage critical thinking/problem solving
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provide opportunities to develop
competence in the use of computers for the
process of writing
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develop and extend understanding
and recognition of the eight parts of speech
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encourage the construction of varied
sentence types and structures in writing
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encourage correct use of capital letters and
punctuation marks in writing
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