Language Arts
Expanding Horizons
Explorer West's Language Arts program cultivates students’ enthusiasm for reading and writing. Students build reading stamina by reading widely and often. "SSR" (Sustained Silent Reading) time, during which students read books of their choice, is built into every school week.
Projects and book groups allow students to examine their choice-books more deeply as they analyze and interpret the literary elements of these books in discussion and writing. Students read and write across several genres, to gain key literacy skills for school and life.
Our students become critical thinkers, independent readers, and skilled writers, ready for high school and beyond.
Writing Skills
Master the writing process to create clear, thoughtful, organized work
Critical Thinking
Sharpen analysis through close reading, class discussions, and book reviews
Connecting Ideas
Link texts to personal experiences and the wider world to form conclusions
Latin and Greek Roots
Gain knowledge of roots and prefixes to learn unfamiliar words
Reading Comprehension
Enhance understanding via historical, ethical, and cultural context
Fundamentals
Improve grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary through writing and discussion
Sixth Grade
- Foundational skill building
- Grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and formatting
- Annotation and close reading of a wide variety of texts
- Exploration of theme and plot elements
- Writing personal narratives
- Thesis statements
- Five-paragraph essays
Seventh Grade
- Academic reading and analysis of nonfiction texts, news articles, and opinion pieces
- Use of evidence and analysis to support claims
- Exploration of character development and setting in literature and folktale
- Figurative language in song lyrics
- Study of setting and context via graphic novels
Eighth Grade
- Perspectives on personal identity
- Literary analysis via close reading of texts across multiple genres
- Setting and archtypes in suspense fiction
- Music and film criticism
- Study of characterization and theme via climate fiction
- Book group
- Travel memoirs of Rome trip
- Commencement speeches
Latest LA News!
I am happy with the high expectations EW has for its students that really challenge them in healthy ways, while helping them build the skills and tools they need to rise up and fly past those expectations.