2025-26 Course Descriptions - Catalog - Page 26
ENGLISH
ENGLISH 6: FANTASY AND ADVENTURE
“But just because you can never reach it, doesn’t
mean that it’s not worth looking for” (The Phantom
Tollbooth). In English 6, students encounter stories
that are at times fantastic, at times realistic, and
always adventurous, sparking a love for reading,
thinking, and creating. In their study of increasingly
complex texts, students recognize story shape, the
impact of characterization, the necessity of con昀氀ict,
and other critical elements of reading that ground
their English adventure. Through daily reading and
writing exercises, students learn to appreciate and
employ the building blocks of expression, exploring
sentence craft elements including grammar and
syntax while developing pro昀椀ciency with paragraphs
and persuasive writing. Through these efforts,
students recognize how others’ word choices and
sentence structures convey meaning and inform
the development of their increasingly unique voices.
Texts may include selected short stories and myths
from various cultures, Norton Juster’s The Phantom
Tollbooth, Louis Sachar’s Holes, Linda Sue Park’s A
Long Walk to Water, and more.
ENGLISH 7: RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGE
“Each story, each person is different. Messy
sometimes. But colorful, mismatched, and beautiful
(The Last Cuentista).” When we look at the state of
the world today, we wonder how we can navigate
the challenges ahead. In English 7, students read
texts that immerse them in stories of challenge
and the striking courage young people 昀椀nd to, in
one way or another, persist and make an impact.
We ask questions like: How can we build resilience?
What can we learn from others’ stories to help us
persevere? How do we develop, share, and treasure
authentic stories of humanity’s endurance? What,
even, is the value in storytelling? Given the rise of
AI, answers to these questions are more pertinent
than ever. To enhance their understanding, students
use the framework of “windows and mirrors” to
Curriculum Guide | 26
engage critical thinking skills, relating to a text and
learning about circumstances other than their
own. They identify and analyze passages that
facilitate these direct connections to the world and
themselves, pulling from a variety of texts across
cultures and genres. Students develop multiple
approaches to active reading and stamina building,
while advancing reading, writing, and thinking
skills. Daily writing—both personal re昀氀ection and
responses in conversation with literature—fosters
a sustained habit of expression and deepens
students’ engagement with ideas. Through this work,
students explore the joy of reading and creating,
experiencing stories not only as academic exercises
but as living, human connections that enrich
their thinking. Our approaches to analysis ensure
