ELA (English Language Arts)

Course Descriptions

Freshman Year

English I and II consists of the study and practice of literature at the pre-collegiate level. Emphasis will be placed on higher-end thinking and research skills to prepare students for further study in high school. Students will study a broad selection of fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry as well as independent reading. Emphasis will be placed on balanced literacy and writing workshops. The course is designed to aid in the transition from the junior high level of language study to high school.

Sophomore Year

English III and IV

This class has a few objectives. The first objective of this class is to teach students to become critical thinkers of life and literature. This goal will be accomplished by reading and analyzing works of literature that are challenging and thought provoking. The second objective of this class is to assist students in improving their writing skills. The final goal of this class is to assist students in doing well on the English Regents exam that they will take next year. 

Junior Year

English V

This class is designed to prepare students for the English Regents exam that they will take in January. The students will be prepped for the Regents exam by practicing different writing techniques, reading challenging literature and learning how to analyze and write about that literature.

English VI- Regents Prep

If a student does not have success on the English Regents in January, he or she will have an opportunity to repeat the course in a more intimate setting. Regents Prep classes are normally taught with two teachers so that special attention can be paid to students in need.

SAT and College Prep

This course has one main goal: To adequately prepare students for the game of life.

The preparation will come in many forms. First, students will study hard for the SAT exam that will be taken in May. Second, students will prepare for their tenure in college by reading challenging texts and writing extensive research reports. Finally, students will set and achieve realistic goals that help them become contributing members of society.

Senior Year

Advanced Placement English

The AP English Literature and Composition course is designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students can deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students should consider a work's structure, style, and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.

Economics

This course is designed to prepare students for the “real world” by introducing them to basic economic terms and themes. Throughout their life, students will encounter problems that require a basic knowledge of economics. During this course, students will learn everything from managing their money, to the economics of the business world. Students will work on projects that encourage them to become entrepreneurs.