DLP 9th Grade

CULTIVATING GROWTH MINDSET: UNLOCKING POTENTIAL AND EMBRACING CHALLENGES (810) 

Grades 9-10:  Level 2

(Semester) .75 credits

NOT OFFERED - 2025-2026

This course is  designed to equip students with essential life skills based on the principles of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey.  This transformative class is tailored to the unique experiences of high school students, providing practical tools and strategies to thrive academically and personally.

Topics studied include exploring the power of personal responsibility, developing a proactive mindset, navigating high school challenges, defining personal and academic goals, mastering time management skills, maximizing productivity, enhancing listening and communication skills for better understanding and fostering empathy and understanding in interpersonal relationships. 

The course will offer engaging multimedia content, real world case studies and stories relevant to teenagers, group discussions and collaborative projects to reinforce learning, and feedback and coaching for individual growth.

COMMUNICATION (816) 

Grades 9-10:  Level 2

(Semester) .75 credits

This course is designed to go beyond traditional curriculum to engage students in meaningful discussions about the pressing challenges faced by individuals and communities around the world.  This class is designed to foster awareness, empathy, and critical thinking skills by delving into “real talk” issues such as hunger, poverty, student rights, and human rights, etc.

This course aims to empower students with knowledge, skills and compassion needed to become informed and responsible global citizens who actively contribute to positive social change. 

Assessment in this class is not only based on traditional exams but also on students’ ability to critically analyze, articulate their thoughts and actively engage in discussions and community projects. Students are encouraged to reflect on their personal growth through the course and how it has influenced their views and actions in the real world.

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS (856)

Grades 9-12: Level 1

(Semester) .5 credits 

This course is designed to help develop the skills necessary for improved success in the classroom, particularly the core content classes.  Self-advocacy and frequent communication with teachers will be encouraged and reinforced.  Students are expected to bring assignments and/or study materials to class. The objective or organizational skills class is to help students stay organized, complete homework assignments, projects, study and become self advocates for their education.  Every class begins with students planning and organizing their materials, followed by consultation with the instructor, where work is prioritized.  Each class closes with students summarizing that day’s accomplishments and assessing that day’s performance. 

This is a pass/fail course where students are expected to be in class, equipped with those materials needed to accomplish their work. Students are expected to manage their time wisely, be respectful of the learning environment and complete their assignments in a timely manner.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES (913) 

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Semester) .5 credits

This course is designed to  provide students with the opportunity to participate in a variety of team-based and individual physical activities. The students assess their current levels of cardiovascular and muscle fitness by demonstrating competency in a number of specific skills and exercises. These assessments are used to set individual goals and reflect upon self-improvements.

LIFE IN BALANCE: SEL SKILLS FOR TEENS (835 )

Grades 9-10 Level 2

(Semester) .75 credits

The course is designed to equip students with the social and emotional learning (SEL) tools necessary to navigate adolescence with confidence, empathy, and resilience.  This course aligns with the CASEL 5 framework, focusing on the core competencies of Self Awareness, Self Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making.  Through engaging activities, discussions, and projects, students will explore the dynamics of emotional intelligence, practice mindfulness, strengthen interpersonal skills, and develop strategies for managing challenges in healthy, balanced ways.

This course will prepare students to face academic, social, and personal challenges with resilience and integrity.  By integrating SEL skills into daily life, students will be empowered to build positive relationships, make thoughtful decisions, and maintain emotional balance, both in high school and beyond.

FOUNDATIONS OF LITERATURE AND WRITING (074)

Grades 9-10 Level 2

(Year Long) 1.5 credits

Grades 10-12

In this course, students will develop skills critical to understanding literature, writing, and the fundamentals of the English language. Students will be encouraged to develop a positive attitude toward enjoying literature, improving writing skills and expanding vocabulary.

Through the exploration of short stories, novels, graphic novels, poetry, and nonfiction texts both Western and Non-Western, students will develop an understanding of the narrative structure, literary and poetic devices, and the mechanics of written language.

Writing is integral in the process of learning, thinking and communicating, and students will be given ample opportunities to respond critically to a variety of literary works in order to strengthen their writing skills. Students will also be provided with opportunities to practice implementing literary devices through creative writing.

Through reading, writing, and class discussion, students will develop editing accuracy, increase spelling accuracy, improve reading comprehension, and expand vocabulary.

The overall goals of the course are for students to hone the ability to analyze literature and to learn to communicate effectively in the written form.

ELEMENTS OF NONFICTION (824)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Year) 1.5 credits 

NOT OFFERED 2025-2026

Elements of Nonfiction focuses on prose based on facts and real-world events and people, including biography and history. Writing assignments include personal narrative, journal-keeping, letter-writing, essays, news writing, and biography. Primary texts for the class include selected memoirs, newspaper articles, professional writings, recounts of historical events, and a variety of biographies.

The course emphasizes the following skills: recognizing the differences as well as the similarities between nonfiction and fiction; improving writing skills; distinguishing between the various forms of nonfiction and the reasons for employing them; becoming familiar with and using various literary devices; developing strategies for generating topics; developing editing accuracy; increasing spelling accuracy; improving reading comprehension; and expanding vocabulary.

Vocabulary is derived from literature read for class; spelling comes from individual student writing.

ELEMENTS OF POETRY (828)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Year) 1.5 credits

NOT OFFERED 2025-2026

Elements of Poetry focuses on poetry and poets.  The output of student writing, combined with poetry from assorted anthologies, will provide the primary text for the class.  The writing component of the course provides students with a variety of assignments ranging from the simple to the complex, enabling students to experience what it takes to be a poet by writing poems of their own.

The course emphasizes the following skills: recognizing the distinction between connotative and denotative meaning and between figurative and literal language; improving writing skills; becoming familiar with and using various literary devices; developing editing accuracy; increasing spelling accuracy; improving reading comprehension; and expanding vocabulary. 

Modern Literature and Composition

Grades 9-12 Level 2

(Year Long) 1.5 credits

Modern Literature and Composition is a comprehensive English course for students in grades 9–12 that explores major works of 20th- and 21st-century literature while strengthening essential reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students engage with a diverse range of texts—including novels, short stories, graphic novels, poetry, plays, and nonfiction—by authors from a variety of cultural, social, and global backgrounds. Through close reading and discussion, the course explores key themes of the modern era such as identity, power, conflict, and social change, helping students understand how literature both reflects and shapes the contemporary world.

Alongside literary study, the course focuses on composition skills needed for academic success. Students practice analytical, argumentative, and reflective writing, developing clear thesis statements, effective organization in writing, and purposeful use of evidence. Instruction in grammar, style, and revision is integrated throughout the course to encourage skillful, effective academic writing. By the end of the course, students are prepared to read complex modern texts thoughtfully, communicate ideas effectively, and apply critical literacy skills across disciplines and real-world contexts.

INTEGRATED GEOMETRY (871)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Year) 1.5 credits

Prerequisite: A grade of D- or higher in Integrated Algebra I or teacher recommendation.

This course is similar to the Integrated Geometry course offered by the Mathematics Department and fulfills the same requirements.

Topics studied include concepts in plane geometry such as angle relationships, circles, similarity and congruence correspondences, geometric constructions, and coordinate geometry as well as systems of linear equations and inequalities, power models, symbolic manipulation of polynomial and rational expressions, properties of space-figures including area and volume and the ability to work with and estimate radicals.  

Four dimensions of understanding are emphasized: carrying out various algorithms with increasing skill, developing and using mathematical properties and relationships, applying mathematics to realistic situations and representing or picturing mathematical concepts.  

Classroom activities will include teacher and student explanations and class discussions of concepts, techniques and homework problems.

Employability (DYH809)

Grades: 9-10 Level 2

(Semester) .75 credits

This course is designed to prepare students for success in college, careers, and beyond by building essential employability and life skills.  Students will develop strong soft skills, including communication, collaboration, and professionalism, while learning effective time management and productivity strategies. Guest speakers from a variety of career fields will provide real world insight and connections, helping students explore career pathways and expectations.

INTEGRATED ALGEBRA I (839)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Year) 1.5 credits

All students should take this course which focuses on algebra for a variety of reasons.  Algebra builds competency in arithmetic, encompasses formulas, graphs and the translation to the language of math of everyday situations which abound in the workplace.  Algebra also enables students to recognize that arithmetic is not merely a collection of unrelated rules and procedures.

Students should expect homework every class period and are required to have a scientific calculator for classwork and homework.  Before the purchase of calculators and notebooks, the student is advised to consult with his/­her teacher.

Integrated Algebra I exposes students to statistics and geometry as the framework for the study of linear expres­sions, equations and inequalities.  The study of probability provides a context for fractions, functions and set ideas.  Content and methodology reflect real-life applications and current technology.  Geometric concepts are integrated through­out this course as a context for algebraic applications and as preparation for geometry.  Throughout these topics, reading, problem solving and the graphic representation of solutions are emphasized.

Four dimensions of understanding are emphasized: carrying out various algorithms with increasing skill, developing and using mathematical properties and relationships, applying mathematics to realistic situations and representing or picturing mathematical concepts. 

Classroom activities will include teacher and student explanations and class discussions of concepts, tech­niques and homework problems.

INTEGRATED ALGEBRA II AND TRIGONOMETRY (834)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Year) 1.5 credits

Prerequisite:   A grade of D- or higher in Integrated Geometry.  

This course is similar to the Integrated Algebra II and Trigonometry course offered by the Mathematics Department and fulfills the same requirements.
Topics include work with trigonometric ratios and circles, multiple-variable models, algebraic relations and functions, formal reasoning and deduction as well as further work with linear, exponential, power, and periodic models.

Four dimensions of understanding are emphasized: carrying out various algorithms with increasing skill, developing and using mathematical properties and relationships, applying mathematics to realistic situations and representing or picturing mathematical concepts.
Classroom activities will include teacher and student explanations and class discussions of concepts, techniques and homework problems.

CELLULAR BIOLOGY, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION (836)

Grades 9-12: Level 2

(Year) 1.5 credits

This course is designed to provide ALP students with a basic understanding of the workings of cells, heredity and evolution, and prepare them for the High School Biology MCAS Exam, one of three MCAS exams that students must pass as one prerequisite for high school graduation in Massachusetts. 

Beginning with a look at cellular biology, students will learn the contents of the cell with particular emphasis on mitosis and growth, and then they learn about the cell’s role in sexual reproduction, meiosis and heredity.

The geologic time scale will be introduced with specific emphasis on the fossil record and will be used to explore topics in evolution including natural selection, adaptation, adaptive radiation and speciation.

Students are expected to recognize the patterns in inheritance that led to Mendel’s tenets of heredity and, also, those patterns within the fossil record that led to general evolutionary theory as well as Darwin’s theory of natural selection.  An appreciation for the challenges that these scientists and others faced when first introducing their paradigm-shattering theories to the scientific and political communities of their day will be stressed.

The basic concept of this course is that data and information can be utilized to make inferences about the workings of the natural world.  Students will develop the skills necessary for making a scientific inquiry, synthesizing information and communicating their information through a variety of means.

Methods of instruction consist of class discussions, field trips, laboratory studies, audio-visual presentations and guest speakers, as well as library and Internet research.