Middle School English-Language Arts

The Fountain Valley School District Middle School English-Language Arts department follows the California Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy.  FVSD students read complex, rigorous fiction and non-fiction texts, write frequently to produce full-length and shorter brief writes, practice speaking and listening, and develop their language skills throughout their three years in middle school.  In order to deliver high-quality, standards-based instruction, teachers have developed two shared Units of Study that are taught at all three of our middle schools.  Teachers are also in the process of developing a third Unit of Study that will be implemented during the third trimester.

 

During each unit, students read a rigorous core text, analyze connected non-fiction text, participate in instructional strategies such as "close reading" and Socratic Seminar, and complete a culminating writing assessment.  Student writing is assessed using grade-level specific rubrics that help to ensure consistency of expectations across grade levels and school sites.

 

All middle school students have access to Chrome Books in their ELA classroom.  In addition, students use the Google Suite of tools to create, revise, and finalize their writing.  They also have access to Revision Assistant, an online tool that delivers standards-aligned writing practice with instant, rubric-based feedback.

 

6th Grade: Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

7th Grade: Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

8th Grade: The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett

 

6th Grade: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

7th Grade: The Giver by Lois Lowry

8th Grade: Lord of the Flies by William Golding