English
Philosophies and Practices of the NHS English Department
The Nantucket High School English Department is committed in its philosophy and everyday practices to "developing students' oral language and literacy through appropriately challenging learning," as the state's English Language Arts Curriculum Framework says in its Guiding Principles. As English teachers, we are dedicated to helping our students find their voices and to teaching them the literacy skills they need to succeed and thrive in both their personal and professional lives, long after they leave our classrooms. To meet those goals, students in our classrooms will continue to refine their skills through speaking, listening, viewing, analyzing, reading, and writing.
About NHS English
The study of the English language and literature establishes a vital foundation for a well-adapted adult and a strong citizen. All English courses are designed in accordance with the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for English Language Arts and Literacy. Through our work in these courses, students develop the strategies necessary for acquiring academic knowledge and attaining independence in learning. They build their ability to remember, understand, analyze, evaluate, communicate, and apply the ideas they encounter in English and other disciplines. By the successful completion of senior year, students will have read a variety of authors and genres reflecting the common literary, civic, and cultural heritage of the English-speaking world. They will also gain exposure to works from the countries and cultures that make up our contemporary world. Students will learn to write clearly and coherently in persuasive, expository, narrative, and expressive forms.
From the MA Department of Education
NEW Expectations for High School
- Notice when a text (like an article or speech) is not coherent: for example, when it contradicts itself or uses the same words to mean different things.
- Read important texts from history. Analyze how they affected the people and societies around them, and how those people and societies affected them.
- Revise writing to get rid of unnecessary words and phrases. For example, change “I went together with my family” to “I went with my family.”
- In class discussions, take action when necessary to make sure that everyone can participate and all perspectives are heard.
By the End of High School, Students Can
- Use literary criticism (texts that analyze literature) to help understand literature. For example, analyze a poem using an article someone else wrote about the poem.
- Analyze texts with complex characters, structures, and messages: for example, books with multiple themes, settings, plots, or points of view.
- Understand ways in which authors and speakers try to influence readers and listeners: for example, telling sad stories, using big words, or leaving out important information.
- Use a variety of credible (believable) sources when doing research. Avoid relying too much on one source of information.
- Use semicolons (;), colons (:), and hyphens (-) correctly and effectively.
- Understand that the English language changes over time and that even experts can disagree about grammar and spelling.