In our 9th Grade English Language Arts curriculum, students explore the theme of personal identity through diverse, rigorous, and relevant texts. Students will consider how factors like race and gender as well as the social and political context of characters’ lives impact who they are, how they experience the world, and how they use their voices to effect change for themselves and others. Across the units, students deeply engage with rich texts through both independent reading and guided Close Reading, prepare for and engage in longform whole class discussions including Socratic Seminars, and write multi-paragraph responses to Essential Questions by gathering evidence and effectively communicating their thoughts.

Our three focal units for 9th grade are:

Unit 1: Me, Myself, and I: Examining Personal Identity in Short Texts

Unit 2: You Laugh But It’s True: Humor and Institutional Racism in Born a Crime

Unit 4: ¡Viva Las Mariposas! Voice and Agency in In the Time of the Butterflies

In our 10th Grade English Language Arts curriculum, students explore the theme of the individual in society, considering questions such as, “What is the tension between being an individual and being a member of a community/society? How can being part of a community protect us? Harm us? What, if any, responsibilities do we have to our community? Why? What responsibilities does our community have to individuals?” Building upon the knowledge and English Language Arts skills they’ve developed in previous years, students deeply engage with complex texts through both independent reading and guided Close Reading, prepare for and engage in longform whole class discussions including Socratic Seminars, and write multi-paragraph responses to Essential Questions by gathering evidence and effectively communicating their thoughts.

Our three focal units for 10th grade are:

Unit 1: "If This Goes On..." Technology, Truth, and Happiness in Fahrenheit 451

Unit 2: Flowers of Freedom: Voice, Defiance, and Coming of Age in Purple Hibiscus

Unit 4: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: Magical Realism in Latin American Literature 

Starting in January 2025 teachers will have the opportunity to pilot updated Fishtank ELA curriculum. In the Spring of 2025 11th grade teachers will select units in common for full implementation in the 25-26 school year. 

Starting in January 2025 teachers will have the opportunity to pilot updated Fishtank ELA curriculum. In the Spring of 2025 12th grade teachers will select units in common for full implementation in the 2025-26 school year.