SCMS English 7 & 8 Program

At the secondary level, FCPS has a focus on disciplinary reading and writing across the curriculum. Explicit reading instruction and frequent opportunities to engage with authentic texts allow students to deepen their understanding of the discipline and its specific reading demands. Explicit writing instruction and frequent opportunities for practice allow students to develop critical thinking skills and apply knowledge in specific disciplinary settings.

The FCPS Program of Studies (POS) for Language Arts defines the instructional program that must be implemented in the middle school language arts classroom.  It describes curriculum content, identifies the essential knowledge and skills taught, through specific standards, benchmarks, and indicators.  The Program of Studies incorporates and extends the Virginia Standards of Learning. Together they combine to make a comprehensive program of studies for Fairfax County Public Schools.

Our Department Chair for the English Department is Jessica Billone.

Reading and Writing Intervention Courses

LAP: Literacy through Active Participation (Year long Course)

For 7th and/or 8th graders (by Teacher Recommendations)

Focus on the following:

• Comprehension
• Vocabulary development
• Literacy strategies for all content areas
• Reading and writing stamina
• Writing skills
• Motivation

Instructional Model:

• Blended learning, workshop Model using the Read 180 curriculum
• Differentiated Instruction
• Student Choice and relevance
• Regularly scheduled time to read

Action Literacy 7 & Action Literacy 8 (Semester Course)

For 7th and 8th graders (by teacher Recommendations)

Focus on the following:

• Comprehension
• Paired fiction and nonfiction
• Media literacy
• Research
• Vocabulary development
• Reading stamina

Instructional Model:

• Explicit instruction with gradual release
• Collaborative structures
• Student choice and relevance
• Regularly scheduled time to read

Responsive Writing (Semester Course)

For 7th and 8th graders 

• Struggle with grade-level writing tasks.
• Low scores on Horizon writing assessments
• Teacher recommendations

Focus on the following:

• Implementing writing process for narrative, expository, and persuasive writing

Instructional Model:

• Explicit instruction with gradual release
• Conferring
• Mentor text

Creative Writing (Semester Course)

For 7^th and 8^th graders

Developed to improve all areas of writing, including: 

• Creativity/ ideas
• Word Choice
• Vocabulary
• Voice
• Writing Process & Fluency

Focus on all areas of writing, including: 

• Creativity
• Word Choice
• Vocabulary
• Voice, 
• Writing Process 
• Fluency