What textbooks are used?

In addition to the Houghton Mifflin English text book, each child was assigned a copy of The Word within the Word, our vocabulary text. This vocabulary series eschews the study of random vocabulary words, focusing instead on the study of Greek and Latin stems, the building blocks of much of our language. By learning 500 stems, a student effectively learns about 5,000 words, and develops word attack strategies for unfamiliar terms. There is no reading textbook, as our program is based entirely on literature. Some books are read by the whole class, some are read by clusters of students in literature circles, and some are selected by individuals. Here’s a thematic breakdown by grade level:

Eighth Grade: Utopian Visions

In addition to historical fiction and non-fiction, our curriculum encompasses biography, drama, poetry, classics, and, most importantly, science fiction.

Seventh Grade: Irresistible Forces

The marquee genre this year is fantasy. We will also highlight short stories, historical fiction and non-fiction, poetry, drama, contemporary realistic fiction, and perhaps an author study,

Sixth Grade: Heroic Myths, Quests, and Legends

Mysteries are a key genre for sixth grade. Additionally we will spend some time on drama, poetry, and mythology. Historical fiction is also a cornerstone of sixth grade reading, as it supports the really cool 6^th grade social studies curriculum.

What are reading logs?

At Palos South our students are expected to do independent reading outside of class. This year, each student will keep a reading log – a list of the books and periodicals read during the course of each quarter. In addition, each child will write a brief reflection about his/her choice of reading material and progress as a reader. Reading taste is a very personal matter, so these logs will not receive a qualitative grade. However, they are a requirement of the course. Failing to submit a quarterly reading log will result in a deduction of 8% of the final grade for the quarter.

Reading log due dates are:

1^st quarter – October 15^th

2^nd quarter – January 4^th

3^rd quarter – March 4^th

4^th quarter – May 20^th (8^th)/May 27^th (6^th & 7^th)

What is the writing curriculum?

More often than not the writing curriculum will be integrated with the literature we read. Students will hone their skills as they respond to literature. We will also practice standard essay formats and further develop style and tone through creative writing. Eight graders will write the dreaded research paper.

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