1:1 High School ELA Credit: Accelerated 9th Grade 2nd Semester Full Curriculum

With 20 years of experience teaching 9th-grade English, I’ve guided countless students to master critical skills in literature, reading comprehension, writing, and verbal reasoning.
This semester, your student will embark on a journey through timeless literature, thought-provoking discussions, and skill-building assignments. Twice weekly, I’ll work with your student live, helping them explore classic stories, develop strong writing techniques, and build confidence in their abilities. On the other days, you’ll have access to curated materials and guidance to keep the momentum going at home.

By the end of the semester, your student will not only earn high school credit equivalent to traditional schools but also grow in their ability to think critically, express ideas clearly, and tackle challenges head-on.

This isn’t just another English class—it’s a chance for your 9th grader to thrive while working with classic literature. Let’s work together to ensure they’re equipped for success now and in the future.

Ready to help your student take the next step? Sign up today, and before Jan. 15, 2025 there will be a $25 coupon waiting for you at checkout. 

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Curriculum Overview
Frequency: Twice weekly meetings with me (synchronous learning), independent/paced activities for parents to oversee.
Focus Areas:
Literature analysis
Writing (narrative, analytical, argumentative)
Grammar and vocabulary
Research and speaking/listening skills
Assessment: Mix of discussions, written assignments, quizzes, and a culminating project.

Texts TBD

Possible Short Stories:  "The Most Dangerous Game" (Richard Connell), "The Cask of Amontillado" (Edgar Allan Poe),  "Harrison Bergeron" (Kurt Vonnegut), "The Sniper" (Liam O'Flaherty)

Novel Considerations:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
1984 by George Orwell

Drama: The Crucible, (Arthur Miller); Romeo and Juliet or Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (with scaffolding for understanding).

Poetry:

Use curated collections for 9th graders or online resources like Poetry Foundation.

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Weekly Breakdown
Weeks 1–3: Short Stories
Focus: Plot, setting, characterization, and theme.
Assignments: Graphic organizers,  literary devices, author's craft

Write a personal narrative inspired by one of the themes.
Discuss story elements in live sessions.

Weeks 4–6: Novel Study #1
Focus: Literary devices, character development, and societal context.
Assignments: vocabulary, verbal reasoning

Weekly reading reflections.
Analytical essay (e.g., theme or character analysis).

Weeks 7–8: Drama (Shakespeare)
Focus: Understanding Early Modern English, tone, and motivations.
Assignments:  The Globe Theatre

Scene reenactments.
Compare themes to a modern context.

Weeks 9–11: Novel Study #2
Focus: Dystopian or allegorical analysis (e.g.,1984).
Assignments: TBD

Multimedia presentation on a central theme.

Weeks 12–13: Poetry Unit
Focus: Figurative language, structure, and interpretation.
Assignments: TBD

Create a poetry portfolio.
Perform a selected poem (live or recorded).

Weeks 14–15: Research Paper
Focus: Argumentative writing, MLA formatting, and research skills.
Assignments: Brainstorm, research authoritative articles, outline, rough draft, edit, final draft, bibliography MLS style

Research topic (tied to earlier readings).
Write and present findings.

Week 16: Culminating Project

Final presentations or creative projects synthesizing semester learnings.