In sixth through eighth grade, students expand upon their abilities to read and respond to a wide range of literature. Students are encouraged to make connections between their lives and the lives of characters in the books they read. Typical themes include self-awareness and integrity.
Students study different writing genres, including short stories, poetry and the essay. They develop an understanding of how authors use conflict, setting, character and tone to convey meaning. They use the texts they read as models for their own writing.
Writing fundamentals are a focus in middle school. Students study Greek and Latin roots, dictionary skills and words taken from literary texts. The study of grammar includes sentence structure, oral language skills and the understanding of the foundation of language.