English Language Arts & Social Studies

The middle school English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum aims to build upon the foundational skills developed in elementary school, fostering further proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It emphasizes the exploration of diverse literary genres and complex informational texts, encouraging critical analysis and interpretation. Students engage in a variety of writing tasks, including argumentative, informative, and narrative composition, while also honing research skills. The curriculum places importance on vocabulary and language development to enhance communication and comprehension abilities. Through a progressively challenging curriculum, middle school students in New York State are prepared to meet higher-level academic expectations, setting the stage for their continued educational growth and development.

The Middle School Social Studies curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of history, geography, government, economics, and civics. It encompasses a wide range of historical events, cultures, and global perspectives, encouraging critical thinking, analysis, and the development of informed citizenship. Students explore significant historical periods and their impacts on the modern world, while also delving into geography to understand the interconnectedness of societies and cultures. Government and civics topics promote an understanding of democratic principles and active citizenship. Additionally, the curriculum introduces economic concepts and their relevance to contemporary society. Through a combination of research, critical thinking, and active engagement with primary and secondary sources, students develop a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the world and their role as informed and responsible citizens.

Courses offered by the Brentwood High School English Department reflect our commitment to instructional excellence in the language arts and, wherever practicable, an interdisciplinary connection with the Social Studies Department. New York State Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy are addressed in every class so that students may develop the reading, writing, research and speaking skills to meet and exceed the requirements of the English Regents Exam, the SAT and other benchmarks of success, including college credit for Advanced Placement courses. The curriculum is designed to prepare our students for college and career readiness. Our program offers a variety of English courses that are designed to support all levels of student achievement and growth: Regents, Honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and Academic Intervention Service (AIS) courses reflect these available options. The portfolio system is used to build reading, writing, listening and speaking skills; the final exam is based on portfolio assessment.

We also offer elective classes to provide additional language arts learning opportunities based upon student interests. These classes seek to further develop students’ understanding and appreciation of literature and writing, and to foster a facility with language. While at the same time, these electives enable students to earn credits toward high school graduation and prepare them for a college course of study after graduation. These courses are full-year courses, offer 1 credit, and must be taken in addition to regular English course requirements.
Any student who fails English for the year must make it up in summer school; students will not be allowed to double-up in English the following year if they do not attend summer school and must take English courses in sequential order.

Every student, including incoming 10th graders, is encouraged to participate in the Summer Reading challenge and read at least one book in order to participate in the Summer Reading Fair in the Fall. Honors and AP level students will have a separate accompanying Summer Writing Assignment. All summer assignments must be completed by the start of the new school year. All English Department summer reading assignments and accompanying materials are posted annually on our district website.

Literacy is…the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.Kofi Annan

All courses offered by the Social Studies department provide students with the knowledge, intellectual skills, civic understanding, and disposition toward democratic values that are necessary to function effectively in American society. Ultimately, social studies instruction should help students assume their roles as responsible citizens in America’s constitutional democracy, and as active contributors to a society that is increasingly diverse and interdependent with other nations of the world. Social studies supplies students with the background to conduct research in order to cast informed votes, with the skills to place conflicting ideas in context, and with the wisdom to make good judgments in dealing with tensions inherent in society.

The course of studies prepares our students for the Social Studies Regents examinations, the SAT, and the attainment of college credit by way of the Advanced Placement program.