English

About

The English Department includes the academic areas of English language, literacy, and composition, as well as journalism and photojournalism. It offers courses on three levels: college preparatory, honors, and Advanced Placement. It is the department’s goal to assist students in becoming critical and analytical readers, logical and insightful thinkers, and skilled users of written, visual, and oral communication. Students are required to take four years/credits of English classes in order to fulfill graduation requirements.

Advanced Placement Program 

The Advanced Placement program in English is a comprehensive college level program available to all students as part of their English education at Barrington High School. This program offers a rigorous and demanding curriculum and prepares students for college-level experiences while also preparing them to take and pass the Advanced Placement exam in Language or Literature. Students are encouraged to check with their counselor and investigate their college choices before deciding to take an Advanced Placement course. Advanced Placement classes are offered in Language and Composition and Literature and Composition. All students are eligible to take Advanced Placement classes in English with Department Chair approval needed in certain situations.

Blended Learning 

The English Department is proud to offer several courses in a blended format. Blended learning is an instructional strategy that gives students shared ownership in the time, pace, path, or place of their learning. This initiative combines in-class student-centered learning strategies with occasional release from the classroom environment. Most courses offered in the blended format use release time as needed to allow for small group and individualized instruction. Students who are released participate in independent and small group work in supervised but less structured environments such as the library or commons. Blended offerings for younger students are more structured and have less release time than those offered to upper level students who are preparing for the rigors and independence of college. Check individual course offerings and talk to your counselor to find the blended offerings best suited for you.