"Learning isn't a way of reaching one's potential, but rather a way of developing it" - Anders Ericsson
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed for students who need further support building reading and writing skills. Reading selections include classical as well as young adult literature with a focus on literacy strategies. Student writing will include creative and expository responses. Community service and book clubs may also be used as strategies for extending the learning beyond the classroom.
How does the study of literature help individuals construct an understanding of the world?
How are prejudice and bias created? How do we overcome them?
How do we form and shape our identities?
What factors shape our values and beliefs?
How do stereotypes influence how we look at and understand the world?
How do our personal experiences shape our view of others? (How are people transformed through their relationships with others?)
What gives a person power?
When is it appropriate to challenge the beliefs or values of society?
What are our responsibilities to others? Must the strong care for the weak?
Does (gender,race, age, etc) influence or determine an individual’s potential?
If you ever have any questions or concerns, want to email us your assignments, or think you’re going to be absent – please don’t hesitate to contact us. The best way to contact is through email because we check that at least once a day. If you ever need to find us during school hours, we’ve provided our schedule for you below.
9C COURSE COMPETENCIES
READING:
Reading Literature Competency: Students will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, analyze, and critique a variety of increasingly complex print and non-print literary texts.
Reading Informational Texts Competency: Students will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, analyze, and critique a variety of increasingly complex print and non-print informational texts – including texts for science, social studies, and technical subjects.
WRITING:
Writing Arguments Competency: Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and critique texts or topics and support claims and reasoning with sufficient evidence for intended purpose and audience.
Explanatory Writing Competency: Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively write informative texts to examine and convey complex ideas for variety of purposes and audiences.
Narrative Writing Competency: Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively apply narrative strategies for variety of purposes and audiences.
RESEARCH:
Students will engage in research /inquiry to investigate topics and to analyze, integrate, and present information.
LISTENING/SPEAKING/VIEWING
Listening: Students will demonstrate the ability to listen and view critically for variety of purposes.
Speaking: Students will demonstrate the ability to speak purposefully and effectively - strategically making decisions about content, language use, and discourse style
Creativity/Synthesis: Students will demonstrate the ability to use the tools and resources provided through the course to generate original, independent thinking and express that thinking in effective ways.
TECHNOLOGY
Students will demonstrate the ability to use the tools of technology (including digital media and the Internet) to gather, interpret, and analyze information and create sharable products
By the end of Freshman year, students will be able to:
Craft a compelling argument and support that argument with clear organization
Work toward a shared goal
Apply knowledge and comprehension to make insightful connections among ideas, texts, etc.
Demonstrate flexibility or original thinking
Be proactive by defining and acknowledge problems that may arise. Use executive functioning skills to plan, organize, and time manage
Understand and showcase a Growth Mindset by focusing on the process rather than the end result
Appreciate multiple perspectives within the communities;
Provide context with carefully selected evidence. Able to properly integrate quotations into their own sentences when applicable. (weaving quotes)
Delegates roles throughout and share in the contribution of the final product
Analyze and evaluate authors’ intentions and use of literary elements
Effectively use a process that leads to a product or solution
Be flexible and creative, devising alternatives and showing perseverance
Showcase a reflection of their learning; through self awareness and character development (personal growth as well as through work samples)
Viewing issues from the school, local, national, global, and/or digital community level.
Use analysis and specific details to show significance rather than tell supporting subject matter
Engage in self regulation while managing conflict if it shall arise
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text
Use visuals to showcase understanding and depth of knowledge
Be able to stay on task and utilize resources (meta-cognition) in order to successfully complete goal
Consistently taking ownership of their learning through time management, meeting deadlines, and by being self starter.
Make clear transitions between ideas and paragraphs
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
Learn to give and receive constructive criticism
Begin to develop a unique voice
Showcases understanding through utilizing annotations to analyze a seminal part of work, to make connections, or as support
Diagnose learning needs realistically with help from facilitators and peers.
Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.
The ability to select effective strategies for making use of learning resources and to perform these strategies skillfully and with initiative
Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.
Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented
English Teacher
Adult Education Teacher
Student Activities Advisor
LiteraryLancer@gmail.com