Unveiling Literary Themes

In middle school, our language arts curriculum continues to evolve in step with our students. Each year, the middle school language arts program revolves around a central "big theme" that connects reading and writing units.
 
In fifth grade, literacy is explored through the lens of "choice," where students examine the choices authors make in crafting stories and make choices themselves as authors while constructing their own pieces of writing.

In sixth grade, students delve into the concept of "meaning" as they engage with literature, contemplating how story elements such as character, conflict, and setting influence the text's meaning. They also concentrate on deeper meanings in their own writing as they compose various pieces.

Seventh graders investigate the concept of "purpose" in their reading and writing. As they explore various genres, they grapple with not only the author's purpose behind each story but also the story's broader significance in our world. While writing their own pieces, they reflect on the larger purpose behind their creations.

Eighth graders delve into the topic of "voice" in their final year of middle school. They take note of whose voices are heard and whose stories are told in the texts they read. Concurrently, they continue to develop their own authorial voices, contemplating how authors, including themselves, employ writing to express their unique voices.
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Open Window School provides a challenging academic curriculum blended with nurturing support from teachers that prepares students for long-term success.