English

List of 5 items.

• Foundational Studies: 6th-8th Grade

  Archer's Middle School curriculum sets the foundation for life-long learning; it is tailored to foster enthusiasm while establishing strong habits of mind. Our teachers understand that Middle School students learn best when actively engaged, so students use a variety of modalities to investigate, draw conclusions, and demonstrate their understanding of "big ideas" about the world around them. Archer's dynamic online vocabulary program adapts itself to each student, allowing her to progress at her own pace and see new words in multiple contexts, from Latin roots to modern day usage and visual representations. 
  
  Middle School literary study blends contemporary young adult literature with classic texts; we foster passionate readers who aren't afraid to stretch themselves. Students develop their ability to think critically and write thoughtfully about short stories, poems, novels, and plays as they progress from simple analytic paragraphs to full-length essays. They participate in Socratic seminars to develop effective questioning strategies and collectively discover multiple perspectives. They apply these speaking and writing skills to share their ideas among peers and the larger community. These skills form an integral piece of the bridge between understanding and ability. 
  
  Archer girls are also asked to reflect on, and take ownership of, their approach to learning. These foundational courses reflect 21st-century learning where knowledge of the content is balanced with a creative approach to thought.

• Evolving Studies: 9th-10th Grade

  As students move into Upper School, their relationship with literature evolves - we challenge them to become more aware of the world outside the text. Humanities classes in 9th grade develop global perspectives on dynamic themes such as humanity's relationship with the environment, cultural and religious norms, and conceptions of gender. In 10th grade, history and English classes examine the concept of East and West; students explore classical texts as well as contemporary novels that either uphold or subvert traditional Western archetypes and values. 
  
  Building on the foundational writing skills learned in Middle School, 9th and 10th grade classes emphasize language-based analysis that requires students to hone their critical thinking skills. In order to determine the author’s intent, they must delve into the symbolic connotations of word choice, imagery, and other figurative devices. These literary techniques can then be used to explore larger thematic and conceptual elements that illuminate their understanding of the text and the world at large. Accordingly, they continue to develop their prose styles so that their purpose is clear and artfully presented.

• Advanced Studies: 11th-12th Grade

  How do fairytale archetypes manifest in modern literature? Is Orwell's 1984 modern or postmodern in its approach to "truth"? How does culture impact individual happiness? How can we use literature to evaluate the drawbacks and benefits of technological changes? During 11th and 12th grade, students dive into provocative, complex questions such as these as they explore a wide variety of texts.

  
  In 11th grade, students have a choice between Rhetoric or Advanced Study Rhetoric. These courses hone students’ analytical skills as they consider rhetorical strategies and techniques. Texts include both nonfiction and fiction, and the courses pay particular attention to persuasive writing. Options multiply during 12th grade as students can take one of our unique Senior Seminars or Advanced Study Senior Seminars (recent courses include: The Artist and the Machine - Reactions to Innovation, Critical Approaches to Canonical Literature, Happiness - The Language, Literature, and Legacy of Well-Being, Hyperreal - Comparative Studies of Contemporary Literature and Film, and Literature of Fairy Tale & Fantasy). All of these options allow for advanced study in the form of independent literary research and presentation.
  
  These two years allow our students to showcase themselves as confident, articulate, and knowledgeable scholars of English. As they hone the skills they have developed over the years, we challenge them to discover their authentic academic voices - both on the page and out loud - in order to discuss literature and ideas at a college level.

• Electives & Publications

  Archer girls are passionate writers who explore a wide variety of forms and genre. Middle School students first get a taste of publication by joining our Creative Writing Club. Through this club, they write, edit, and prepare to publish a digital literary magazine called Write in the Middle. In 2012, this was the only Middle School publication in the state of California to be ranked "Excellent" by the National Council of English Teachers. These students may choose to pursue this passion in Upper School by taking Creative Writing at the introductory or advanced level. This class produces the award-winning Pillars of Salt. In 2012, this literary magazine was ranked "Superior," the highest rank possible, by the National Council of English Teachers. 
  
  In the information age, what is more important than clear, accurate communication? Budding journalists have two options: Yearbook or the 21st-Century Journalist. Both of these classes teach the fundamentals of good journalism and result in substantial publications. The Yearbook class teaches reporting and design in the context of the Archer community as they work toward creating the annual yearbook. Students in the 21st-Century Journalist class discuss the evolution of journalism during the 20th and 21st centuries, including exploring questions about journalistic ethics and the role of social media in an increasingly digital world. This class maintains our dynamic digital student newspaper, The Oracle, reporting news about the Archer community. We aim to create ethical, insightful, and responsible journalists who understand the power of information.
  
  Click here to read The Oracle.

• Beyond the Classroom

  Passionate students and teachers of English know that literature, writing, and speaking extend beyond the classroom walls. At Archer, we offer a number of opportunities for students to seek these connections.
  
  The "Literature & Conference" 
  
  Independent Shakespeare Company
  
  Poet Laureate Competition
  
  One Book