Basic English Lessons

Language Arts and Reading: With Modified TEKS and Instruction

Focus TEKS  -  1st 6 Weeks

1. E1.2A: Use print or digital resources such as glossaries or technical dictionaries to clarify and validate understanding of the precise and appropriate meaning of technical or discipline-based vocabulary

2. E1.4F: Make inferences and use evidence to support understanding

3. E1.9D: Edit drafts using standard English conventions, including:

4. E1.9Di: a variety of complete and controlled sentences 

5. E1.9D.ii: appropriate use of verb tense

6. E1.9D.iii: pronoun-antecedent agreement

7. E1.9D.iv: correct capitalization

Assessment

Sentence Structure

Focus TEKS  -  2nd 6 Weeks

1. E1.4f: Make inferences and use evidence to support understanding

2. E1.5B: Write responses that demonstrate an understanding of texts.

3. E1.5C: Use text evidence to support a comprehensive response.

4. E1.6D: Analyze how the setting influences the theme.

5. E1.6B: Analyze how authors develop complex yet believable characters in works of fiction through a range of literary devices.

Assessment

Reading Assignments: “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell

Writing Assessment: What does it look like when someone takes their hobby too far? (Fiction)

Mentor Text: "The Most Dangerous Game" 

Additional Reading Assignments:

“The Cremation of Sam McGee” by Robert W. Service 

Text

Video

Focus TEKS  -  3rd Six Weeks

1. E1.4f: Make inferences and use evidence to support understanding

2. E1.8A: Analyze the author's purpose, audience, and message within a text.

3. E1.8D: Analyze how the author's use of language achieves specific purposes.

4. E1.9B: Develop drafts into a focused, structured, and coherent piece of writing.

5. E1.9D: Edit drafts using standard English conventions, including:

   1. 9D.ii: consistent, appropriate use of verb tense.

Assessments

Test: “Adult Brains” by Stephen Johnson and “Do Juvenile Killers Deserve Life Behind Bars?” by Nina Totenberg.

Writing Assessment: How do we ritualize transition? (informative essay)

Mentor text: “Adult Brains”

Focus TEKS  -  4th Six Weeks   -  Introduce a Graphic Organizer for structured writing

1. E1.4F: Make inferences and use evidence to support understanding.

2. E1.7E: Analyze characteristics and structural elements of argumentative texts such as:

   1. 7E.iii: identifiable audience or reader.

3. E1.8D: Analyze how the author's use of language achieves specific purposes.

4. E1.9B.i: using an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, topic, and context; 

5. E1.9C: Revise drafts to improve clarity, development, organization, style, diction, and sentence effectiveness.

Assessments

Reading Assessment: Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” (CommonLit) & “Essay to Cleveland” (organizer)

Writing Assessment: What do I wish adults understood about me? (argumentative letter)

Mentor text: “Essay to Cleveland” by LeBron James

RACE Graphic organizer

Focus TEKS  -  5th Six Weeks    We will work on strategies to assist the students with the EOC.

1. E1.9B.i: using an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, topic, and context; 

2. E1.9C: Revise drafts to improve clarity, development, organization, style, diction, and sentence effectiveness.

Assessments

Reading Assessment: “The Model Millionaire” by Oscar Wilde and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway. 

Writing Assessment: How do the characters in our fiction reflect the research in our “Money and Happiness” article? (argumentative)

RACE Graphic organizer

Focus TEKS  -  6th Six Weeks   -  Research and Inquiry

1. E1.11A develop questions for formal and informal inquiry;

2.  E1.11B critique the research process at each step to implement changes as needs occur and are identified;

3. E1.11C develop and revise a plan;

4. E1.11D modify the major research question as necessary to refocus the research plan;

 5. E1.11E locate relevant sources;

Assessments

Reading Assessment: Annotated bibliography of four self-selected texts.

Writing Assessment: How do we deal with tragedy? (self-selected)

Reading materials and assessments are subject to change according to the need of the students.