English

Solebury's English teachers are devoted to the ongoing work of striving for equity in our teaching and learning. Students are asked to probe texts and challenge ideas, and our goal is to establish an environment where students feel safe and emboldened to bring their authentic selves to the learning process.

We strive to provide content that both reflects and evolves the mindsets of our diverse student body and that propels the critical skills students will carry with them for a lifetime of intelligent, informed, empathetic, and original reading, writing, thinking, and action.  

English is required every term. The core curriculum is supplemented by an array of electives inspired by faculty and student interest. Our honors and AP level courses are designed to challenge students to stretch and grow as thinkers and writers. These courses carry more content volume, move at a faster pace, and require mastery of prerequisite skills as well as internal motivation on the part of students in order to find success. Our hope is that the students who elect to take these demanding courses do so with a genuine love of learning and the subject matter. Students taking honors and AP classes are not guaranteed high grades, but they are guaranteed growth, challenge, and enrichment if they fully engage with the material.  

Across all grade levels and designations, students are asked to write in many genres. Examples include:

• Expository writing
• Free writing
• Creative writing
• Journal writing
• Playwriting
• Persuasive writing
• Poetry

We teach writing as a process, and guide students through the multi-stage experience of pre-writing, editing, revision, and proofreading. More than anything else, reading and writing are skills of practice, and we provide ample opportunities for students to grow and strengthen their abilities by doing so.  

If you have any questions about Solebury School’s English Department, please contact department chair Sarah May at: smay@solebury.org or (802) 881-9803.