​Please note that we offer one level of language arts for elementary grades 4-5,  two levels of language arts for middle school (advanced and regular) and two levels of English for high school (honors and regular).  If you have questions about which level is appropriate, please contact Angie Mendez (trahomeschool@gmail.com).

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High School ​

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Honors English: American Literature and Composition (Mrs. Mendez) (This class has a 3 year rotation--American, British, World) 

By reading, discussing and evaluating the works of authors which have endured as classics of literature, students will enter the “Great Conversation” in this honors level class.  We will consider each work of literature in light of the author’s purpose and worldview, the prevailing cultural and philosophical ideas of the period and the art and music it produced. Students will be challenged to become competent communicators, writing with proper structure, style, and grace using IEW based materials, but encouraged to develop their own personal flare. Students will practice the essay and the research paper, model and write poetry, and produce literary critiques of selected literature. Since this class is honors level and incorporates Advanced Placement vocabulary and skills, it is excellent preparation for dual enrollment and college. 

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Literary Works

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• Excerpts from Colonial writers: Franklin, Edwards, St. Jean deCrèvecoeur (Provided for you)

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories by Irving/Bradley  Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/04raa6jY

• Various American poets: Bradstreet, Longfellow, Poe, Dickinson, Frost, etc.  (Provided for you)

• Young Goodman Brown and Other Short Stories by Nathanial Hawthorne   Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/0duX9K99

• Billy Budd, Sailor by Herman Melville  Link:  https://a.co/d/08us9rZ4​

• Thoreau and Emerson excerpts—TBA

• Henry James: Daisy Miller   Link: https://a.co/d/06CqTpVL

• Crane: The Red Badge of Courage    Link: https://a.co/d/0i5YPY8P

• Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby    Link: https://a.co/d/01fAZUAB

• O’Conner: “A Good Man is Hard to Find”  (Provided for you)

• Wilder: Our Town (play)    Any unabridged version is fine.

• Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird    Link: https://a.co/d/03dA2GJ0

• Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea   Link: https://a.co/d/055NpJJe  

• Frank: Alas, Babylon    Link: https://a.co/d/0gQall90

• Grammar/Style Book—The Elements of Style Workbook by William Strunk, Ed. by Michele T Poff; order from Amazon Link:    https://a.co/d/098bT9X8

• 2 inch, 3 ring notebook with dividers

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Writing Assignments

• Literary Critique

• Descriptive Essay

• Biographical Essay

• Persuasive Essay

• Super Research Essay

• Letters (personal, editorial)

• Poetry

• Modeling

 

*Please order using the ISBN number so that we will all have the same book.  This information will be sent after enrollment.

     

 

Regular English: American Literature and Composition (Mrs. Mellichamp) (3 year rotation: American, British, World.)

Required Materials:

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Structure and Style for Students, Year 1, Level B.  Purchase latest edition of student packet from IEW: https://iew.com/structure-and-style-for-students-year-1-level-b-binder-student-packet

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Novels/Short Stories/Poetry:

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"--Irving

"The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg"-- Mark Twain 

Poe short story and "The Raven"--TBD

Uncle Tom's Cabin--Harriet Beecher Stowe --TBD (Don't purchase this yet.)

The Red Badge of Courage--Crane

To Kill A Mockingbird--Lee

The Old Man and the Sea--Hemingway

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Middle School ​

Advanced IEW​/Lang Arts Class (Rotation-American History-Based) (This class has a 3 year rotation.) (Mrs. Mendez)

Using materials from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, we will practice the style, structure, and grammar of writing.  This year, we will use American History-Based  Lessons and material from the B Writing Intensives.  Vocabulary and grammar are included. Writing assignments include the following: description, narration, summarizing from various sources, short story, reports, basic essay, literary critique/response, newspaper based on novel, and poetry—modeling and original.  More challenging assignments will be balanced with fun and creative writing. 

We will read and discuss the novels listed below along with various short stories and poems, learning how to recognize literary elements (plot, setting, theme, etc.) as well as consider the purpose of the author and his worldview along with the art and culture of the time period.  

Required Materials:

• American History-Based Writing Lessons(most recent edition from IEW--2019) by Lori Verstegen—Student Copy only.

• 2 inch binder with dividers and paper

• Grammar: Fix It! Grammar Level 5 Frog Prince   Please purchase the latest edition of the student book (2022) from IEW or Amazon.

• Access to a computer and printer

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Novels:

• The Witch of Blackbird Pond—Speare

• Sign of the Beaver—Speare

• Johnny Tremain—Forbes

• “Paul Revere’s Ride” (poem)—Longfellow

• Carry on, Mr. Bowditch—Latham

• The Journeyman—Yates

• Little Britches—Moody

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry—Taylor

• Farewell to Manzanar--Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

• Poetry and short stories will be provided.

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Writing Includes:

• Description

• Narration

• Summarizing from various sources

• Short story

• Reports

• Basic essay

• Literary Critique/Response

• Newspaper based on novel

• Poetry—modeling and original

More challenging assignments will be balanced with lighter, fun, and creative writing. 

 

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Regular IEW/Language Arts (Rotation 1) (This class has a 3 year rotation: Narnia 1, Narnia 2, Wonders of Science.) (Mrs. Mellichamp) 

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Required Materials:

Following Narnia: The Lion's Song Volume 1--Bettis (Purchase student book only from IEW)

Fix It! Grammar Level 3 Robin Hood (Purchase latest edition of student book from IEW: https://iew.com/fix-it-grammar-level-3-robin-hood-student-book or from Amazon

The Magician's Nephew--Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe--Lewis

The Horse and His Boy--Lewis

Biography and short story TBD

 

Elementary School 

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4-5th IEW/Language Arts 1 (Mrs. Mellichamp)(This class has a 2 year rotation.)

Supplies

• Student Copy of Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales by Maria Gerber (available from IEW) Please purchase the latest edition.

• Binder with dividers and paper

• Access to a computer and printer

• Grammar will be either Fix-it Level 1  book: https://iew.com/fix-it-grammar-level-1-nose-tree-student-book

• Various Novels from the following (subject to change)

 

My Father’s Dragon—Ruth Stiles Gannett

The Whipping Boy—Sid Fleischman

The Sword in the Tree—Clyde Robert Bulla

The Tale of Despereaux—Kate DiCamillo 

The Trumpet of the Swan—E.B. White

The Penderwicks—Jeanne Birdsall

Various myths and short stories (provided)

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