Vision Statement:
The Language Arts Department at PHS strives to meet the needs of all learners. Recognizing that literacy is access to power and essential to a democratic society, our department uses inspired teaching to create a sense of belonging for our students and prepare them for their post-secondary lives. Most importantly, we hope to inspire a life-long love of reading and writing.
About the Department:
Currently, the PHS Language Arts Department consists of 17 of the finest teachers in Fort Collins. We have a highly educated staff with 14 teachers holding master’s degrees, two holding double master’s degrees, one with a law degree, three who have/are pursued/pursuing principal licensure, one that is in graduate school and two who are endorsed to teach English as a Second Language. Teachers range in experience from 1 to 27 years, with the average years of experience sitting at an impressive 16 years. We are proud to meet students where they are and encourage them to grow. As teaching professionals, we are continuous learners with frequent participation in professional development courses. Our staff is trained in IB and MYP teaching framework, E.L. Achieve teaching frameworks, and inclusive strategies. Currently, we have representation on the Ed Tech leadership committee and the Student Experience Guild. We also are leaders in innovation, participating in a Lucas Education Foundation/CU Boulder curriculum study and constantly evaluating our practice to improve equity and ensure our students are receiving the best possible educational experience. We are proud of our student-produced, award-winning literary magazine Kaleidoscope. Our nationally recognized theater department engages students in all aspects of theater production and produces several high-quality productions a year. For more information about our theater program, see the PHS theatre website http://www.poudretheatre.org.
Language Arts at the Grade Levels
- Students need 40 English credits to graduate. Please see our course flow chart to visualize what four years of English can look like at different grade levels.
- Students at the 9th-grade level take MYP English 9 with a cohort of students from their selected pathway.
- Moving to MYP English 10, students continue in their pathway. Students may participate in electives such as TV, Creative Writing, Digital Productions, Film Studies, Yearbook, or Kaleidoscope.
- At the 11th-grade level, students have several options. Traditionally, students take US Lit and Composition, which includes SAT-test preparation in the curriculum; however, students also may take a combination of elective credits. Students looking for a challenge may participate in AP Language and Composition, IB Diploma World Authors 1, or Front Range Community College concurrent enrollment courses.
- Seniors have myriad options that mirror career paths. Digital Productions and Effective Communications are hands-on courses designed for students who are looking for non-traditional English courses. British Literature and Modern Literature are traditional English courses for the senior level.
- Students may also meet English requirements through a combination of elective courses. Looking for a challenge, students may consider AP Composition and Literature, IB Diploma Program World Authors 2, or Front Range Community College concurrent enrollment courses.
Department Leader: Jen Musci