Academics

6th Grade English
The sixth grade language arts curriculum consists of the study of short stories, novels, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and writing and speaking skills. The student will read and learn to comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and non-print formats. In addition to fiction works, students will read and analyze a variety of informational text such as speeches, discussions and media productions. Word analysis and vocabulary strategies are very much a part of the language arts curriculum by studying literal and figurative meanings, denotation and connotation, spelling, and syntax clues. The sixth grade English student will create written work that has a clear focus, sufficient detail, coherent organization, use of voice and correct use of the conventions of Standard American English. The students will write for a variety of purposes and audiences, and will access and use information from a variety of sources. Always the presence of God will guide the choice of topics and selected reading material.

7th Grade English
The seventh grade language arts curriculum consists of the study of novels, short stories, poetry, grammar, vocabulary, spelling and writing and speaking skills. Emphasis is increasingly given to drawing conclusions, making inferences, studying characterization, literary terms (imagery, tone, flashback, foreshadowing, symbolism, suspense and irony) and making connections to self, text and world. The ability to read with fluency, understanding context clues, idioms, and euphemisms determine the mastering of independent reading. Writing will be taught using the process of prewriting, drafting, editing, revising and publishing. The seventh grade English student will create multiple-paragraph compositions that include a main idea with supporting details and appropriate transitions between paragraphs. Always the student will evaluate various media using the tenets of the Catholic faith.

8th Grade English
The eighth grade language arts curriculum consists of the study of novels, short stories, poetry, vocabulary, grammar and writing skills. The eighth grade student will read independently increasingly sophisticated fiction and non-fiction works with understanding. Vocabulary will consist of analysis and interpretation of the English language with respect to the global community. The writing aspect of language arts in the eighth grade shows mastery of grammar and development of ideas that were previously taught at St. Anne. The culmination of written work is the completion of an MLA research paper that has been learned step-by-step from formation of thesis statement, note cards, sentence outline and proper citing. The tenets of the Catholic faith inform and pervade the reading and writing responses of the students.