English/Language Arts

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

Upper School English Teacher Mrs. Steiner and student.

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS

It may come as a surprise that one of the most iconic symbols found on Benjamin’s lower school campus isn’t the fishpond or the bell, but instead a seasoned educator who has helmed the ship of the lower school’s language arts department for decades.

Mrs. Joanna Hogan is unmistakable as she traverses the campus in her iconic, horn-rimmed glasses, and with such a perfect posture that makes her gait seem more like an effortless sashay. Her Southern drawl — less of a drawl and more of a verbal ellipsis — has ushered students into class since the early days when Benjamin was still called North Palm Beach Private School.

Hogan has carried the mantle of academic excellence throughout her time at Benjamin. As part of the language arts curriculum, she has turned shy fifth grade learners into confident orators who make the often nerve-wracking pilgrimage to the front of their classrooms each week and recite — from memory — a new poem.

It’s safe to say that Benjamin graduates who have had the privilege of being taught by Hogan can still recite the first poem they had to memorize — “Barter” by Sarah Teasdale. Many may even still have their “American Express Card” — a binder full of all the poems students learned throughout the year. Hogan felt the moniker was fitting because “it could take you anywhere” and you “don’t leave home without it.”

Building upon the lower school foundation, the middle and high school language arts programs focus on exposing students to great authors and thinkers, while creating confident learners and courageous explorers.

By high school, students have had the opportunity to study everything from the art of war to medicine and humanity, mythology, and film analysis as part of the curriculum. Students and graduates are exposed to high-quality literature, oral discussions, written responses, and composition. With this solid foundation, they are able to bring strong oral and written communication to any field they choose to pursue.

Attorney Brianne De Sellier ‘05, who moonlights as a television legal analyst for many of the alphabet networks, said strong writing skills have been an integral part of her law practice.

“All of those times that Mrs. Ditaranto and Mrs. White picked apart my writing during high school (and the B’s and C’s that came with it), made me one of the best writers in my law school class, as well as at the firm where I work. I get compliments on a weekly basis from firm partners on my writing style and abilities, which I developed primarily while I was at TBS,” said De Sellier.

Mrs. Hogan and former students. MS English Teacher Mrs. Ponchock and student diagram sentences.