9th Grade English

Enrollment for Enriched English is open to all interested students, but as demand exceeds space, certain criteria must be met before a student is allowed to enroll in this class. See teacher for details.

This class is for those students who want a slightly accelerated learning experience. It will parallel the regular 9th grade classes in content and scope, but enriched students will be expected to do more writing and reading as a whole. For example, students in enriched classes should expect to write a second major paper and read an additional 2 novels per trimester, depending on the time we have. Enriched English students should plan to push a little harder and submit all work on time or lose credit.

I also want this to be a positive, non-competitive space for students to craft their skills in reading, writing and thinking. To that end, I expect all my students, whether enrolled in regular or enriched classes, to treat me, their peers, and themselves with the utmost respect.

Please read:

The reason for using Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men in Enriched English

(9b, 2nd Trimester)

John Steinbeck is considered one of our greatest American novelists. His works have been referenced and reproduced on stage and in the movies and taught in high schools as part of the required curriculum for generations. Steinbeck’s stories and ideas speak to the universal themes of compassion, friendship, poverty, courage, hardship, and longing in an American context. Most college-level literature courses expect entering freshmen to have a working familiarity with his novels and short stories.

Because Steinbeck wanted to treat his subject matter seriously and realistically, he uses the vernacular of the times, therefore you will find old-school obscenities in the dialogue. This is not to shock or disturb audiences, but to draw them into the Depression-era reality the characters inhabit. I will explain all this to the students, of course, and I will tell them I expect a mature attitude as we read and discuss the novel. I encourage parents to read the book along with their child so they can discuss the themes together.

We have many students who wish to enroll in honors and we don't always have the room to accommodate them all. Therefore, if you feel that the content of this novel is unsuitable and your student is likely to opt out, I encourage you to consider enrolling your student in a regular English class instead.