Ninth Grade English Language Arts focuses on comprehension and composition of informational, literary, and persuasive texts, as well as on speaking, listening, research, and critical reasoning skills. This course exposes students to a variety of texts from American and world cultures. Students read novels, short stories, plays, essays, poems, and nonfiction. Students write in a variety of styles with a focus on structure, vocabulary, and writing mechanics. In addition, students engage in a variety of discussions and oral presentations, as well as research and reasoning tasks, and the research process.

Class Policies

Here are the Policies and Expectations for class.

See this link to The Honor Code

Weekly Agenda

Thursday, 8/14

-Welcome to the first day of school!

-Teacher introductions

-Create alphabetical seating chart

-Policies and Expectations Review

-ID Pictures in auditorium 

Friday, 8/15

-Bring your charged chromebook

-Policies and Expectations Review

-Match Game

-Distribute passes

Weekly Agenda, 8/25-8/29

Monday, 8/25

Freshman Vocabulary #1 

This week we're starting with 5 vocabulary words to learn.  There will be a quiz over these five words on Friday.  Write these words and definitions in your notebook.

Admonish (verb)- to caution or advise

Cumbersome (adj)- clumsy or hard to handle

Deadlock (noun)- a standstill between two equitable forces

Debris (noun)-scattered fragments or wreckage

Dilemma (noun)- a difficult problem or situation

-Capitalization Review/ Practice

-Begin drafting Writing Pre-Assessment on Courage

Tuesday, 8/26

-Vocabulary #1 Review

-Complete Capitalization review handout

-Continue drafting Writing Pre-Assessment on Courage- submit in Schoology when you are finished

Block, 8/27

-Papers back

-Vocabulary #1 Practice

-Complete Capitalization Review

-Begin Reading Images Activity in your LA notebook

-Pass out Annotation Bookmarks

-Annotate "The Distracted Teenage Brain"

-Complete Review Questions over "The Distracted Teenage Brain"

Friday, 8/292

-Complete Freshman vocabulary quiz #1

-Elements of Fiction Pre-Quiz 

-Take notes on Elements of Fiction 

-Complete Elements of Fiction Post Quiz

Weekly Agenda, 9/8-9/12

Monday, 9/8

Freshman Vocabulary #2 for Quiz Friday, 9/12

Commandeer-(verb) to seize or take arbitrarily by force

Efface-(verb) to remove, destroy, erase

Muddle- (verb) to make a mess of, mix up or confuse

Predispose-(verb)to give inclination before hand

Relinquish- (verb) to turn away from, give up

Salvage- (verb) saving goods or property from destruction

Unbridled- (adjective) not restrained or controlled

-Complete the practice session in vocabulary.com

-Continue work on One Pager over "The Censors"-Due tomorrow, 9/9 at the beginning of the period

Tuesday, 9/9

-Annotation Rubric preview

-Annotation practice on the article, "They're 16 and 17 years old, and They Want to Vote"

-Complete and turn in One Pager over "The Censors"

Block, 9/10

-Practice Freshman Vocabulary #2- Make a Copy of this Document-complete the document with each definition and an image,  Once complete, save to your LA Files

-Practice Vocabulary #2

-Introduce EQ: How do people organize themselves and where do I fit in? (brainstorm)

-1950's Nuclear Attack PSA

Friday, 9/12

-Complete Freshmen Vocabulary Quiz #2 in vocabulary,com

-Complete LA 9 Common Assessment

-After annotating the article, answer the questions in Schoology

Weekly Agenda, 9/22-9/26

Monday, 9/22

Freshman Vocabulary #4

Comely (adj)-having a pleasing appearance

Dissolute (adj)- loose in morals or behavior

Fodder (noun)- domestic animal food, expendable soldiers

Jeer (verb)- to make fun of rudely

Proliferate (verb)- to spread

Subjugate (verb)-to conquer, bring under control

Sully- to stain, make dirty

Tantalize (verb)- to tease, torment by teasing

Terse (adj)- brief, to the point, short

Unflinching (adj)- firm, fearless, unrelenting

-Complete practice session for Freshman Vocabulary #4 in vocabulary.com

-Finish Reading Chapter 1, "The Sound of the Shell"

Tuesday, 9/23

-Practice Vocabulary #4

-Review -Novel Notes

-Complete Chapter 1 Review Quiz

-See these instructions for the Island Map Assignment- Consider using the (Ctrl F) function to help you find quotes.  Use the digital version linked under Anchor Texts at the top of my website.  

Wednesday, 9/24 Block

-Complete Government Exam

Friday, 9/26

-Complete Vocabulary Quiz #4 in vocabulary.com

-Continue Work on  Island Map Assignment- due date TBD

Weekly Agenda, 10/6-10/10

Monday, 10/6

Freshman Vocabulary List #6

abscond (verb)- to run away or hide

arduous (adj)-  characterized by hard effort

auspicious (adj)-  favorable circumstances, good luck

biased (adj)-favoring one side over another

daunt (verb)- being fearful or losing courage

inanimate (adj)-  lifeless, without life

intrepid (adj)-  fearless, unable to be intimidated

larceny (noun)- robbery, taking something unlawfully

pompous (adj)-  self absorbed, vain

rectify (verb)-  to correct or make right

-Complete the practice session in vocabulary.com

-Reread page 51 in "Huts on the Beach"

-Complete the handout over Jack's changing perspective

-Preview Novel Notes for Chapter 4, "Painted Faces and Long Hair"

-Begin reading Chapter 4, "Painted Faces and Long Hair"

Tuesday, 10/7

-End of the quarter is this Friday, 10/10.  Late work due end of tutor time, Thursday, 10/9.

-"Secure" Drill at 2:30

-Comma pre-test, items in a series

-Practice Vocabulary #6

-Continue reading Chapter 4, "Painted Faces and Long Hair"

Block, Wednesday 10/8

-Practice Vocabulary #6

-Finish reading Chapter 4, "Painted Faces and Long Hair"

-See this link to review Chapter 4

-Review Novel Notes for "Painted Faces and Long Hair"

-Complete Quizziz review of Chapters 3 and 4

-Read and annotate the Common Lit article, "The 1972 Andes Flight Disaster"

Friday, 10/9

-Pass Back Papers

-Complete Vocabulary Quiz #6 in vocabulary.com

-Complete the mini-lesson over clauses and commas

-Complete the No Red Ink practice session over fused sentences and run ons.

Weekly Agenda, 10/20-10/24

Monday, 10/20

Freshman Vocabulary #7

Arbitrary- (adj) unreasonable, based on bias

Catalyst-(noun) an agent that causes change

Exodus-(noun) a large scale departure

Incorrigible-(adj) unable to be corrected 

Morose-(adj) having a gloomy or sullen manner.

Opaque-(adj) not clear, not letting light through

Paramount-(adj) of major importance

Servitude-(noun) slavery, forced labor 

Stagnant-(adj) not running or flowing, foul from stillness

Succumb-(verb) to give way to a superior force 

-Complete the practice session in vocabulary.com for Vocabulary #7

-Finish reading Chapter 5, "Beast from Water"

-Review Novel Notes  for Chapter 5

-Complete Chapter 5 Review Quizziz

Tuesday, 10/21

-Practice Vocabulary #7

-Continue work on Informative Response Cornerstone Plan

-Use this as your thesis statement for Informative Response

-Open a new Google doc and begin working on Informative Response Cornerstone Assessment

Block

-Tutor Time

-Practice Vocabulary #7

-Review Novel Notes  for Chapter 6

-Begin reading Chapter 6, "Beast from Air" in Lord of the Flies

--"Beast from Air" audio

-Open a new Google doc and begin working on Informative Response Cornerstone Assessment

Friday, 10/24

-Complete Vocabulary quiz #7

-Complete Chapter 6 in LOF, "Beast from Air"

Review Novel Notes  for Chapter 6

-Complete Review Quizziz for Chapter 6

-Continue working on Informative Response Cornerstone Assessment.  Due date, Monday, 10/27 at the end of the period.

Weekly Agenda, 11/3-11/7

Monday, 11/3

Freshman Vocabulary #9 

apex-the highest point of something

assimilate- to make alike, similar

inundate- to fill or cover completely

malign- to speak badly about

obstreperous- noisy and stubbornly defiant

pensive- deeply in thought

perilous- filled with danger

surly-unfriendly, angry or irritated

vagrant- a wanderer with no residence

shoddy- inferior work or workmanship

-Complete the practice session in vocabulary.com

-Discuss governmental allegory climax

Tuesday, 11/4

-Practice Vocabulary #9

-Review the end of "Gift for the Darkness" 

-Island Map

-Simon, The Lord of the Flies ,and Religious Symbolism

-Complete Quizziz review of Chapters 7 and 8

-Begin work on Chapter 8 Close Reading Activity

Block

-Practice Vocabulary #9

-Finish work on Chapter 8 Close Reading Activity

-Preview Novel Notes  for Chapter 9

-Read Chapter 9, "A View to a Death"- audio

-Complete "A View to a Death" review handout

Friday, 11/7

-Collect Chapter 8 Close Reading activity

-Complete Vocabulary Quiz #9

-Preview Novel Notes  Chapter 10

-Begin Chapter 10 "The Shell and the Glasses"

-Watch LOF on film

Weekly Agenda, 11/17-11/21

Monday, 11/17

Freshman Vocabulary #10

assurance (noun)- a binding commitment

console (verb)-to give moral or emotional support

dilate (verb)- to make wider

dwindle (verb)- to become smaller

flippant (adj)- showing an inappropriate amount of seriousness

preposterous (adj)- ridiculous, inviting ridicule

pugnacious (adj)- ready and able to resort to violence

realm (noun)- a defined area or domain

rejuvenate (verb)- to make young or regain strength

sparse (adj)- few, not many

-Complete the practice session in vocabulary.com

-Complete the handout after the first 5 pages

-Thematic Review Chapter 11

-preview Novel Notes for Chapter 11

Tuesday, 11/18

-Practice Vocabulary #10

-Finish reading "Castle Rock" in LOF

-Review Novel Notes for Chapter 11

-Complete Quizziz Review of Chapter 11

-Complete Review of Chapter 11 and Psychoanalytical Theory

Block

-Practice Vocabulary #10

-Begin reading first half of Chapter 12, "Cry of the Hunters"

-Chapter 12 audio

-As you read, complete the Questions for Chapter 12

-Watch LOF on film or work on project

Friday, 11/21

-Complete Vocabulary Quiz #10

-Finish reading "Cry of the Hunters" in LOF

-Complete study guide Questions for Chapter 12

-Complete Quizziz Review of Chapter 12

-Introduce Message in a Bottle Writing Assignment- this is a summative assessment for narrative writing

Weekly Agenda, 12/8-12/12

Monday, 12/8

-Complete this poll for our friends in yearbook

-See Vocabulary Words for LA 9 Summative Assessment ,12/16

-See the practice session assigned in vocabulary.com

-Pass out Rubrics for Message in a Bottle Writing Assessment

-Complete Message in a Bottle Assessment.  It is due today.

Tuesday, 12/9

-Practice Final vocabulary words

-Complete Elements of Literature Quizziz Review

-Begin constructing plot model graphic for "To Build a Fire" by Jack London-Instructions for creating graphic are here.

-Take Notes on the Biography of Jack London- these notes will be collected.

Block

-Practice Final vocabulary words

-Pass out Common Lit Pre-Assessment Scores

-Review of Common Lit Assessment scoring

-Read the Common Lit article, "Thai Cave Boys, the Psychology of Surviving Underground"-access through your SSO

Take Notes on the Biography of Jack London- these notes will be collected.

Friday, 12/12

-Entrance Ticket

-Expand Plot Model definitions-take notes 

-Begin reading "To Build a Fire by Jack London

Tuesday, 1/6

-LA 9 Final Exam Time 1:55-3:55

-Complete Common Lit Mid Year Assessment

-Complete Plot Model Graphic for "To Build a Fire"- submit in Schoology when complete

Wednesday, 1/7

-Government Final Exam

Thursday, 1/8

-See this link to Capitalization Rules for Historical Events and Seasons

-Complete the No Red Ink Practice Sessions over Capitalizing Historical Events and Seasons

-Complete Capitalization Review Exercise

-Introduce Writing an Objective Summary for Fiction

Friday, 1/9

-Begin writing objective summary for "To Build a Fire"-here's a link to the planning/ rough draft handout

Checklist

-Use quotation marks around the short story title, "To Build a Fire."

-Capitalize all proper nouns, names, places, and regions.  For example, the Yukon Territory, the Klondike Region, Alaska.

-Do not capitalize nameless protagonist or the dog.  Capitalize Sulphur Creek when referring to the old timer at Sulphur Creek, as Sulphur Creek is a place.

-Make sure to include textual evidence in your second paragraph on conflict.

-Proofread for spelling errors and proper punctuation.

Weekly Agenda, 1/19-1/23

Monday, 1/19

-No School for MLK Day

Tuesday, 1/20

-If you are absent and miss a vocab quiz, make it up during tutor time.

-Watch "Vincent" by Tim Burton.  Image of Vincent Price

-Review "Cask of Amontillado" Vocabulary

-Preview "The Cask of Amontillado"- Look at Carnevale Masks

-Coat of arms, The Masons

-Begin reading "The Cask of Amontillado"

-As we read the story, complete the reading guide.

Block

-Complete this form for Journalism

-Complete Theme Practice over "The Light on Cedar Street"

-See these examples of Properly Constructed Theme Statements

-Reread the second half of "The Cask of Amontillado"

-Complete the Quizziz review over "The Cask of Amontillado"

-View "The Cask of Amontillado"

-As we read the story, complete the reading guide.

Friday, 1/23

-Review of Theme Statements from "The Last Light on Cedar Street"

-Read the poem, "Eldorado" by Edgar Allan Poe"

-Identify a specific theme, pick a quote that connects, and explain it.

-View the review summary of "The Cask of Amontillado"

-Begin the multi-part review handout of "The Cask of Amontillado."

Weekly Agenda, 2/2-2/6

Freshman Vocabulary #14 for Quiz on 2/6

autocratic (adj)-characteristic of an absolute ruler

blasphemy (noun)- profane language

brawny (adj)- possessing physical strength and size

concerted (adj)- concerning two or more activities done at the same time

illustrious (adj)-widely known or famous

irreverent (adj)- showing a lack of respect

laborious (adj)-characterized by extremely hard work

subversive (adj)- working in defiance of an established authority

temperate (adj)-calm, not extreme

wily (adj)- marked by skill and deception

-Complete  and turn in "The Open Mind" mini-project for "The Cask of Amontillado"-if you were absent on Friday, it is due by the end of tutor time on Wednesday, 2/4.

Tuesday, 2/3

-Practice Freshman Vocabulary #14 

-Preview these instructions on how to write an in-depth Character Analysis Paragraphs- This will be a summative writing assessment

-See this resource: -Here's a list of transition words -Focus on using transition words from the "Chronology," and "Combinations" categories.  If you are using opposing character traits, consider the transition words from the "Contrast" category.

See this link to The Honor Code- type it in word for word on the top of your character analysis in schoology.

Block

-Practice Vocabulary #14

-Theme identification Activity for "Snow" by David Berman

-Continue constructing your Character Analysis Paragraphs

Here's a list of transition words -Focus on using transition words from the "Chronology," and "Combinations" categories.  If you are using opposing character traits, consider the transition words from the "Contrast" category.

Friday, 2/6

-Complete Vocabulary Quiz #14

-Complete Character Analysis Paragraphs for "The Cask of Amontillado."

Use this checklist to review your work before you submit:

-Use bolded text to identify your character traits. You should have three.

-Pick a color and highlight your transition words.  You should have two.

-You must spell the name of the author and the character names correctly!

-Use quotation marks around the short story title, "The Cask of Amontillado"

-Make sure to include an example of textual evidence from the story for each character trait.  You are proving three character traits, so you should have 3 examples of textual evidence from the story including page numbers, like this:  "My heart grew sick, due to the dampness of the catacombs" (9).

-Make sure you use transition words when you transition to a new idea in your paragraph, specifically when you transition from discussing your first character trait to your next character trait.

-After each transition word in your second and third paragraph, you need a comma!

-Proofread for spelling errors and proper punctuation.

When you are done, submit your polished paragraph in Schoology.

-See this copy of the Rubric for your Character Analysis Paragraphs Rubric

-When you have completed your Character Analysis , begin the vocabulary activity for our next novel Of Mice and Men-this is a handout.  Use this resource for the vocabulary activity.  Some terms you may have to look up.  Search "1930's Slang" with the term you're looking for. 

Weekly Agenda, 2/16-2/20

Monday, 2/16 and Tuesday, 2/17

-No School for students

Block

-At 1:30 there will be a lock down drill

-Picture of Woody Guthrie

-"This Land is Your Land" lyrics

-"This Land is Your Land" -Lady Gaga

-"This Land is Your Land"- Bruce Springsteen

-Complete the Google Form linked here about The American Dream

-Steinbeck and Characterization-take notes

Friday, 2/20

-Watch preview of "The 21-mile Walk to Work"

-Read "The 21-Mile Walk to Work"- this is a handout

-Begin the Nonfiction Assignment Sheet over the article, "The 21-Mile Walk to Work"

Weekly Agenda, 3/2-3/6

Monday, 3/2

-Preview Vocabulary in Context #3

-Use these sentences as examples on your handout.  

-Complete and turn in the Characterization Grid for George and Lennie for Chapter 1.

-Discomfort and Literature

-Begin reading Chapter 2

Tuesday, 3/3

-Practice Vocabulary in Context #3

-Finish reading Chapter 2 in Of Mice and Men

-Review Novel Notes for Chapter 2

-Complete chapter 2 review quizziz

-Complete Of Mice and Men Chapter 1 and 2 Fill in the blank review

Block

-Pass papers back

-Practice Vocabulary in Context #3

-Watch Chapter 2 Of Mice and Men on film

-Complete chapter 2 review quizziz

-Complete Of Mice and Men Chapter 1 and 2 Fill in the blank review

-Begin working on Character Grid for Candy and Curley