English/Language Arts

The Sewickley Academy English program develops critical readers and excellent writers. Students develop a strong foundation for clear and concise writing, skills to read and interpret texts critically and imaginatively, and judgment to differentiate among sources and analyze their content. Students are exposed to a variety of genres, diverse literary perspectives, and enduring themes of the humanities. They learn to write for different audiences and purposes and practice their analytical thinking skills.

The English/Language Arts curriculum is inspired and aligned with the National Council of Teachers of English standards and benchmarks and meets "Best Practices" as articulated by the National Association of Independent Schools.

Lower School

Early Childhood and Lower Elementary (PK-Grade 3): The goals of the Early Childhood and Elementary Language Arts program are for each student to learn to read fluently with comprehension, to write legibly, to begin to create stories and poems, to develop an awareness of the power of written and oral communication, and to instill a love of learning and literature. Numerous learning strategies are employed to reach diverse learners through the early elementary grades. They include literature circles, whole group instruction, small group instruction, discussion groups, cooperative learning groups, peer group discussion, and individualized instruction.

Upper Elementary (Grades 4-5): The Upper Elementary Language Arts program is built on the principle that good writing is the foundation to the study of all disciplines. The program provides knowledge and practice in essential writing skills that students learn to adapt to a wide variety of contexts and audiences. The reading program fosters a love of reading while teaching students strategies to become sophisticated, critical readers. Critical thinking and comprehension are central, supported by review of phonics and a focus on spelling and vocabulary development. Students read and write independently from a wide selection of genres and novels. Complex reading strategies - connection, visualization, main idea, prediction, question - constitute the focus for both Grades 4 and 5. A combination of discussion, teacher-guided and independent group work, cooperative learning, and independent study are used.

Middle School

The goals of the Middle School English curriculum are for each student to read with comprehension and appreciation, to write with accuracy and clarity, and to express ideas logically and clearly. The Middle School English program helps students develop the essential skills necessary to communicate effectively and to become independent thinkers, astute interpreters, and persuasive writers. Students will be trained to read for discovery, think analytically and creatively, speak effectively, and write in a variety of modes and text structures. Students in Grades 6-8 learn and practice to read and listen for comprehension and appreciation, express ideas clearly and accurately through speech and writing, develop vocabulary and word attack skills, use technology and library resources, and develop research, time management, and collaborative skills.

Senior School

The Senior School English program focuses on reading, speaking, writing, and research. Students read closely and critically from a wide range of texts in order to build a complex understanding of the many dimensions of the human experience. Students develop their abilities to discuss the issues and values explored in these texts persuasively and responsibly and gain a level of mastery in their ability to speak formally before an audience. Students respond meaningfully to the texts they interpret through various modes of composition, including expository (personal narrative, argument, persuasion) and creative writing (fiction and poetry). Students improve their ability to compose thoughtful and detailed works by focusing upon writing as a process, while also developing a growing mastery of the elements of style. Students conduct research on issues and interests by gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing information from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including print and non-print materials.