For the past 4 school years, the English department has been attempting to find an easy way to teach grammar, writing, and comprehension quickly and effectively to students. As of the 2024-2025 school year. The department has been switching the programs they use over the last several years and this year they’ve done it once more, introducing Quill.org. Quill is a grammar based reading tool, used to improve student’s grammar and writing skills, allowing them to easily gain an understanding of punctuation and practice it throughout the year. Unlike previous programs, however, Quill actively encourages students to get better and has marked a shift in how the English department teaches this material.
The Department’s Journey to Quill
Beginning the 2021-2022 school year, the English department started using a program called Membean. The Membean program focused on expanding students’ vocab through 45 minute sessions every week. The program was used at EHHS until the 2023-2024 school year when the English department started where it was switched for Edgenuity. This was a similar program that used videos to teach students PSAT reading, writing, and standard English conventions skills. Similarly, starting in the 2022-2023 school year, students used the I-Ready program to measure both their reading and math skills overall. EHHS 10th-12th graders collectively said that all 3 programs were very time consuming. One junior said that I-Ready was “thrown together and unstructured.”
The Introduction of Quill
Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the English department introduced Quill to the entire student body at EHHS, having all students in English classes use it. It is specifically focused on grammar and writing, focusing on polishing up students’ punctuation and use of certain words and phrases. It was first tested by some English teachers in years prior. Then, later in the spring of 2024 the program was presented to the entire English department. Quill has been met with a largely positive reception among all grades and teachers. Ms. Themis Valsamis said, “I think so many of our students here are very competitive. Like, against themselves, too, which is great. Like, they want to do really well, and they want to get it right. And they do. Like, they keep working and working on it until they’ve mastered it.” EHHS students of all grades also commented on the fact that each assignment only takes between 3-5 minutes each. The students generally saw this as a huge improvement to the lengthy assignments on the other 3 programs.
How Quill Will Help Students Improve
According to the English department Instructional Leader, Ms. Erica Tamsin, Quill is preparing students for the first diagnostic, which will determine what each grade will work on in the future, “Right now they’re just gathering basic data and then once that first diagnostic comes, that will influence what assignments come in the future, what each grade will work on. Maybe 9th grade really needs to focus on subject verb agreement. We don’t know that yet until we get the post [diagnostic] results.” With Quill, the teachers know more about the entire student body, allowing them to focus on specific skills that different grades need improvement on. Quill has a future and is helping kids strive for theirs too. Quill is more than just an English program, it is crafting the future for its users better than any other program before it.
