Developing a Greater Understanding of the World Through Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing
At Explorer West, our Language Arts program helps students express themselves and interpret others' ideas through writing and reading. Over three years, students engage in projects that connect with Art, Drama, and Social Studies.
Our students become critical thinkers, independent readers, and skilled writers, ready for high school and beyond.
Writing Skills: Master the writing process—planning, drafting, and revising—to create clear, thoughtful, and organized work.
Critical Thinking: Sharpen analysis through close reading, class discussions, and book reviews. Learn literature terminology.
Grammar and Vocabulary: Improve grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary through writing and discussion.
Latin and Greek Roots: Use knowledge of roots and prefixes to understand unfamiliar words.
Reading Comprehension: Enhance understanding with historical, cultural, and ethical context.
Connecting Ideas: Link texts to personal experiences and the wider world to form independent conclusions.
Love of Reading: Develop a lifelong love of reading across various voices and mediums.
Genre Writing: Write in diverse genres and forms, considering audience, context, and purpose.
Self-Reflection: Practice self-reflection, self-evaluation, and metacognition to improve learning.
Life Skills: Build time management, self-advocacy, and resilience.
Our Language Arts program is designed to prepare students for future academic success and instill a love for reading and writing.
Grade Specific Focus:
6th Grade:
- Focus on foundational skills
- Poetry readings
- Various projects
7th Grade:
- Independent reading and writing
- Graphic novel book clubs
- Whole class reading
- Zine creation
- Shakespeare study
8th Grade:
- Independent reading and writing
- Art and narrative writing projects
- Podcasts
- Change the World book clubs
- Whole class reading
- Letters to elected officials
- Journalism study
- Graphic novel unit
