We use a balanced literacy approach that includes Reader’s Workshop, Writer’s Workshop and Language/Word Study.
Our students learn to think like writers, and understand that writing takes time and thought. They learn to plan, edit and revise their own prose, and to present them both orally and in writing. They publish stories that make them proud. We are not satisfied unless each student has developed a love of reading both for pleasure and for information.
In middle school, students engage in close reading of different literary genres, from memoir to poetry to fiction. They learn to understand literal and figurative meaning in texts, trace the development of major characters, analyze literary techniques and uncover universal themes. They further develop the craft of personal narrative, expository and persuasive writing, and learn to write critical essays that include a thesis, evidence and citations.
Mirowitz students develop into sophisticated communicators, and our graduates and their teachers consistently testify that their writing skills give them a competitive advantage in high school.
