The Mills English Program is a sequence of year-long courses that allows each student to develop and progress at an appropriate rate toward the goals of the State and District English Standards. Eight semesters of English are required for a diploma. Four levels of English courses are offered at Mills: Advanced Placement for 12th grade, Honors for 11th grade, Advanced Standing for 9th and 10th grades, and College Preparatory for 9th through 12th grades.
SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS
College Prep Courses
English 1CP Summer Reading Assignment
English 3CP Summer Reading Assignment
English 5CP Summer Reading Assignment
English 7CP Summer Reading Assignment
Advanced Placement Courses
English 1AS Summer Reading Assignment
English 3AS Summer Reading Assignment
English 5H Summer Reading Assignment
English AP Summer Reading Assignment
Recommendations for Class Selection
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CP |
AS/AP/H |
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• May read for pleasure • Reads at grade level • Moderate pace of reading • Two or more required core and/or extended readings per semester • May require extended reading in addition to class reading • Minimum of two or more essay per semester (in-class and homework) per district policy • Control of grammar and usage • One half hour average nightly homework • Solid study skills |
• Enjoys reading outside of class. • Reads for pleasure especially over the summer • Should read above grade level • Accelerated pace of reading • Five or more required core and/or extended readings per semester • Required extended reading in addition to required class reading • Minimum of five or more essays per semester (in-class and homework) • Excellent control of grammar and usage • One hour or more average nightly homework • Strong organizational and time management skills |
Students who enroll in AS/AP classes are committed to the class for the entire school year. Summer reading is required. Failure to complete summer reading will affect a student’s semester grade.
OTHER COURSES
Journalism 1 (Open to students in all grades – application required)
Journalism 1-2 students work as staff writers to produce a monthly newspaper. Students heighten their awareness of their community to determine what is newsworthy; generate story ideas; do research online, at the library, and through personal interviews; write first drafts; interpret copyediting symbols as they correct, expand and improve their first drafts; submit second drafts and third drafts electronically; accept rejection when some of their stories are not chosen for publication; and accept praise and/or criticism when the newspaper is published and their work is evaluated by their peers. They develop critical thinking skills and knowledge of ethical precepts when shaping stories with controversial content. In addition to producing the newspaper, they complete independent assignments on grammar, copyediting, ethics, basic journalism style and the history of the print media. This class meets UC A-G requirement section G college elective.
Advanced Journalism (Prerequisite: Completion of Journalism 1-2; application required)
Advanced journalism students manage every aspect of the newspapers production including editorial content, page design, digital photography, digital production, ad sales, and circulation. Five section editors assign and copyedit stories, optimize photographs with PhotoShop, lay out their pages with PageMaker, and prepare a digital copy of each issue for delivery to the off-site printer. Editors oversee small staffs to make sure circulation, advertising sales, and photography tasks are completed correctly and in-time. Senior staff writers take on the most complex and controversial stories and share their experiences and perspectives with junior staff. Advanced journalism students set the tone and direction of the newspaper. This class meets UC A-G requirement section G college elective.
Yearbook (10,11,12) (Application and interview required)
Publication is a year-long course in which the students produce the Mills High School yearbook. Students learn layout, copy writing, copy editing, photography, production skills and marketing skills. Students use the acquired skills to produce the yearbook. Students must be able to work independently and meet deadlines. This course may be repeated.
Strategic English Support (9)
Students are placed into this support course based on district guidelines.
Strategic English Support (10)
Students are placed into this support course based on district guidelines.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT (ELD) DEPARTMENT
English Language Development (ELD) 3-4 (9,10,11,12)
The EL program is an all encompassing academic program designed to prepare the EL students to make a successful transition into the mainstream English classes. Students entering the program usually read and write between the 3rd to 7th grade levels, and can carry a basic conversation in English. The program is standards based, focusing on reading, writing listening and speaking. EL students are enrolled in two periods of ELD 3-4 and a support reading class. (Two periods, 10 English credits + 10 elective credits.)
English Language Reading Development (9,10,11,12)
The reading program provides students with reading strategies and developmental skills to help improve comprehension and understanding. The reading class focuses on nonfiction reading comprehension. (One period class taken concurrently with ELD 3-4, 10 elective credits)
Transitional English (9,10,11,12)
After transitioning into mainstream English program, EL students are enrolled into a transitional English class that is designed to provide them with academic support for their mainstream classes. Students who are mainstreamed from the 8th grade level into mainstream 9th grade English 1-2 classes are also enrolled in transitional class. (One period class, 10 elective credits)
