Paragon’s English faculty is made up of experienced, creative, and dedicated teachers who are fully committed to providing the best education to their students. Each teacher believes that English is not a course to be taught in isolation; the themes of the literature explored in each grade level are pervasive, and the skills of written and oral communication can be utilized outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged to share personal connections, but are taught to support those connections with concrete details and an understanding of audience. With a supportive team of caring adults, Paragon students are able to stretch themselves and find their own, powerful voice, a voice worthy of being heard.

5th grade Language Arts

Fifth grade Language Arts focuses on the fundamentals of literary and written expression. Student writing samples are more technical in nature, with assignments focusing on providing the reader with a concise, but detailed account. Various parts of speech are examined during the year and grammar is practiced utilizing “Daily Oral Language” lessons. Students read such works as Hatchet, A Christmas Carol, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Novels are discussed chapter by chapter, and students are given comprehension questions to complete. Emphasis is placed not only on answering questions correctly, but also in doing so precisely, with enough detail to enlighten the reader. The students also read a bi-weekly news magazine, Junior Scholastic, to discuss current events. Spelling and vocabulary come from the literature and from Wordly Wise, a vocabulary workbook that requires the students to work with new words in various contextual ways.

6th grade English

The sixth grade curriculum reinforces the fifth grade foundation and immerses the students in a challenging standard of reading and writing. Students read literary selections such as Night, The Watson’s go to Birmingham, Whirligig, and The Outsiders. Novels are chosen to give insight to a variety of perspective, style, purpose and device. Critical analysis of each novel’s powerful content and memorable characters serves not only to engage students, but also allows the students to understand theme and author’s purpose.

Sixth graders will develop a relationship and passion for the written word. They will write literary analysis, creative fiction, and poetry. The novels read this year will serve as a cornerstone for topics of writing. Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary, roots of the writing process, are drawn from and taught in conjunction with the sixth grade literary selections.

7th grade English

Seventh grade English curriculum focuses on appreciation of literature and introduction to analytical writing. Students read works such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, Cyrano de Bergerac, and various short stories and works of poetry. Seventh grade English students utilize close reading strategies to recognize the author’s purpose through his or her use of style and device. Students hone their essay skills by first learning to write a well-developed paragraph, and, later, move into creating five-paragraph literary analysis essays. To build fluency and writing confidence, students participate in personal writing and creative self-expression. Personal poetry and prose is produced, illustrated, and shared. The writing process is an important focus and is utilized with each major writing assignment. Grammar, usage, vocabulary, and sentence style are taught in conjunction with the literature and as part of the writing process in the students’ own personal and extensive writing.

8th grade English

Eighth grade students continue to develop and sophisticate their skills in creative and extensive writing. Literary analysis is a major focus; students continue crafting well-developed, five-paragraph essays, and hone skills in adding significant details from the text, as well as insightful commentary that is rich with elaboration. Correct usage, mechanics, diction, and vocabulary building are a focus within the study of literature and through the students’ writing process. Students will read works such as All Quiet on the Western Front, Crucible, Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, various short stories and poetry, and a work by William Shakespeare. Supplemental reading will be assigned so students can begin making thematic connections between texts. Students improve speaking skills through a variety of small presentations and performances from literature.

During the eighth grade year in English, students participate in a research project to understand the process of research and proper documentation. Students continue to be encouraged to write and share personal works of poetry and prose.