Designed for seventh and eighth grade English teachers, this curriculum guide contains (1) a course description; (2) educational goals; (3) teaching perspective; (4) a set of general principles; (5) a list of questions that teachers ask, along with answers; (6) an overview; and (7) directions for writing as a process, higher level thinking skills, how to measure more than recall, speaking and listening, and conventions of the English language. Also included in the guide are core works lesson plans and instructional materials for "A Wrinkle in Time"; "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"; "The Magic and the Sword"; "The Phantom Tollbooth"; "The Incredible Journey"; "Adventures of Tom Sawyer"; "The Real Me"; "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry"; "Treasure Island"; "Twelve Angry Men"; "A Day No Pigs Would Die"; "April Morning"; "Lilies of the Field"; "The Pearl"; "Summer of My German Soldier"; "Diary of Anne Frank"; "Call of the Wild"; "Farewell to Manzanar"; and "Walkabout." A general appendix comprising one-third of the document includes: (1) reading activities; (2) writing activities; (3) a 13-page list for independent reading; (4) book report activities; and (5) study skills activities. (MS)