The Traveling School

All of the English courses are designed to provide students with critical reading and writing skills, while they benefit from the uniqueness of our environment.  In addition to the focus on reading and writing skills, the English course is designed to prepare students for college and the professional work setting.  All students are actively encouraged to try and publish their writing.  All course work is taught at an advanced and challenging level.  There is a high expectation for each student to prosper in this individualized seminar course.

For all semesters, the literature and composition course is designed to expose students to an assortment of local and regional authors, and selected works.  Literature requirements include novels, short stories, folklore, non-fiction and poetry.  This course combines reading with a rigorous writing workshop to develop writing skills.  Students will maintain a series of portfolios and daily journal entries. 

Students are expected to write an average of three times per week, and to produce three major compositions that have reached a final draft stage.  Peers and the teacher evaluate the major papers for content and composition in each draft stage.  All students write and take responsibility for their writing through the use of journals, revision, peer editing, and portfolio techniques.

This course also encourages reading for enjoyment, and to study a variety of genres by different genders and by and about individuals from different cultures and for students to develop writing skills concurrent with the Significant Writing Program.

Assessment for all Language Arts courses:

Literature:

1. All students will study at least THREE novels per semester.  The study will include: reading, listening, discussing, viewing, performing, and writing.
2. All students will study a variety of poetry relating to the themes of various novels.  The study will include: reading, listening, discussing, viewing, performing, and writing.
3. All students will study at least FOUR short stories each semester relating to the themes of various novels.  The study will include: reading, listening, discussing, viewing, performing, and writing.
4. All students will respond orally to literature at least ONCE during the semester.  The presentation may include discussion, panels, role-playing, speeches, interpretive readings, debates, and dramas.

Composition:

1. All students will maintain a response journal.  Students must write a minimum of FOUR times per week.
2. All students will write THREE essays. Students will work using a variety of criteria, including mechanics, organization, development, diction and style.
3. All students will study grammar and the fundamentals of English composition.