Revised 1/5/22
Marston Middle School English Language Arts Programs:
A Guide for Parents and Students
Marston offers two options in English Language Arts (ELA) in grades 6, 7 and 8 - English and Advanced English. Both programs offer rigorous, standards-based curriculum that prepares students for college. The Advanced English course is an option for students who have a passion for literature and can advance through complex material more rapidly.
Both English and Advanced English have the following attributes:
● Follow a rigorous curriculum.
● Require students to work toward mastery of the California Common Core State Standards.
● Prepare students for high school English.
● Develop critical thinking skills.
● Use the same textbook and interact with a variety of complex expository/informative, argumentative/persuasive and narrative texts.
● Require students to write argumentative essays, informative texts, narrative texts, responses to literature, and summaries.
● Provide opportunities for students to improve listening and speaking skills through a multitude of oral language activities and through oral presentation.
● Utilize technology to help improve reading and writing skills.
Advanced English differs from English in the following ways:
● Faster speed and higher complexity of study
● Complete some tasks beyond current grade level standards and explore the skills addressed in the subsequent grade level standards.
● Students work more independently, with teacher support as needed.
● Because pacing is faster, students will read additional texts, some of which are done as homework.
● Writing is more sophisticated (stronger vocabulary, more complex and varied sentence structure, greater depth of thought and analysis) and more extensively researched.
● Assigned readings may be at a higher level of difficulty.
Qualified students will be preliminarily placed in Advanced English. Before accepting placement in Advanced English, please consider the following:
● Due to scheduling restrictions, movement between English and Advanced English may not be possible after the school year has begun.
● Students are expected to meet placement criteria on an annual basis
● The ultimate goal is that each child is challenged and has a passion for learning
Any student who meets the Advanced English criteria will be offered a spot in the program. In very rare circumstances, there may be a classroom capacity issue for students that did not meet the Advanced English criteria but wish to enter that pathway. In this very rare capacity circumstance, Marston would then implement a fair, objective ranking system to offer enrollment in the Advanced English pathway.
6th Grade Criteria
- Exceeds Standards on 5th Grade ELA SBAC
- Mostly 4s in Literacy Standards on 5th Grade Report Card
NOTE: Marston may also consider 4th Grade ELA SBAC and other district assessments as needed.
7th Grade Criteria
- Exceeds Standards on 6th grade ELA SBAC
- Semester Letter Grades of A or B in 6th Grade ELA
NOTE: Marston may also consider other district assessments and teacher recommendation as needed.
8th Grade Criteria
- Exceeds Standards on 7th grade ELA SBAC
- Semester Letter Grades of A or B in 7th Grade ELA
NOTE: Marston may also consider other district assessments and teacher recommendation as needed.