English (7)
Seventh-grade English is designed to develop confident, appreciative, and analytical readers and writers. This growth is supported by work on critical reading and comprehension, the writing process and writing mechanics, vocabulary development, and grammar. Students practice several modes of writing including (1) analytical essays, (2) research projects, (3) letters, (4) speeches, (5) assignments focused on description, (6) poetry, and (7) narrative assignments.
The goals of the course are to:
- Expose students to a variety of literary genres, to help them develop their views of themselves and the world, and to teach them to think actively about ideas they encounter. Literature selections examine themes related to cultural identity, change, and what it means to move from one stage of life to another. Students read Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hinton, You Bring The Distant Near by Mitali Perkins, and Gracefully, Grayson by Ami Polonsky.
- Expose students to nonfiction material that can help them engage with the themes or topics of a book while also improving their ability to comprehend informational materials (i.e. news articles, op-eds, research papers)
- Help students develop small group leadership skills in differentiated book groups, reading and discussing a variety of books, engaging in academic discussions and practicing and demonstrating their literary analysis skills through in-class writes.
- Focus on writing as a process and encourage the outlining, drafting, revising, and editing steps.
Public Speaking/Writer’s Workshop
In addition to English class, seventh graders attend a Public Speaking/Writer’s Workshop class once a week as an introduction to public speaking and the speech-writing process. During the course of the year, each student selects a topic; researches, writes, and edits a speech; and then delivers the speech at an Upper School assembly.
Burke's mission is to educate, encourage and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.
Burke's admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.