Course Description
Over the course of the year, you will engage in reading and writing activities and assessments based on an understanding of concepts, summary, identification, and analysis. These skills are traced through the Common Core State Standards, the New Mexico End of Course Exam, progress toward high school graduation requirements, and college and career readiness. This course will prepare you for academic success at Manzano by establishing strong foundational skills necessary to excel in all content areas. You will develop proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening; in expressing your ideas about the human condition; and studying the techniques used by published writers both ancient and modern.
Course Objectives and Addressing Common Core State Standards
In addition to standards specific to each unit of study, students are expected to practice the following Common Core Anchor Standards daily:
Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
You may find a complete list of the Common Core State Standards at www.corestandards.org/read-the-standards.
Instructional Methods
I use a wide variety of instructional techniques to facilitate learning. My lessons are rigorous and fast-paced, yet I have also designed them to meet the needs of all students. My methodologies may include lectures, visual presentations, and class discussions, as well as hands-on approaches such as close reading and annotation, small group activities, research projects, computer-based learning and presentations, and a variety of artistic interpretations of the material. Using a variety of methods gives every student the opportunity to be challenged yet successful.
Technology Usage
Technology can be a major distraction in the classroom, however, it is a part of your everyday lives. For this reason, some forms of technology will play a role in your English 11 learning experience. All of our course materials will be available to you through our Google Classroom. As we are now 1-to-1 in our district and you have been provided with a Chromebook, you are expected to bring your Chromebook and charger to class every day. We will use the Google Suite such as Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Drive to type essays, create presentations, and share files regularly. Make sure you have your APS Google account set up. When we are not actively using technology, I expect it to be put away. Phones will not be accepted as a substitute for Chromebooks.
If you have not yet received a Chromebook, please let me know and I will get you in touch with our technology coordinator.
To access your Google for Education account, please use the following login criteria:
Username: studentID@aps.edu (ex: 123456789@aps.edu)
Password: Whatever password you use to access StudentVue
If you are unable to log in to StudentVue, you may contact the office or any of your teachers for a password reset.
Assessments and Grading
Assessments will take a variety of forms in this course. Traditional assessments such as tests, quizzes, and classwork will be used in addition to performance-based assessments such as projects, presentations, and group work. This variety of assessments will allow you to demonstrate your strengths while working toward academic success. Grades will be based on a percentage system using the traditional scale:
100 - 90% A Exemplary
89 - 80% B Proficient
79 - 70% C Nearing Proficient
69 - 60% D Beginning Steps
59% and below F Incomplete / Absent / Missing