English Language Arts (ELA) 9th/10th Grade -- 1St Trimester Class--Part 1
Amy Lavin, J.D.
Average rating:4.8Number of reviews:(358)
In this 10-week course (Part 1 of 3) students will learn English Language Arts skills as designated by the common core standards for reading (literature and informational text), writing, language, and speaking/listening.
Class experience
US Grade 9 - 10
This first trimester course (Part 1 of 3) will focus on one-third of the common core curriculum for 9th/10th grade. Students will improve their skills in reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening. Using novels, short stories, and informational texts, students will examine themes, main ideas, supporting details, and vocabulary. They will also practice their writing and language skills by writing paragraphs, academic essays (narrative in Part 1, persuasive in Part 2, and literary...
10 lessons//10 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1How do we form and shape our identities?• Reading -- Setting • Writing -- Prewriting (a Personal Narrative) • Language -- Show, Don't Tell • Speaking/Listening -- Present Class IntroductionsWeek 2Lesson 2How does literature provide insight into the quality of the human condition?• Reading -- Characters • Writing -- Introductions (a Personal Narrative) • Language -- Dialogue/Quotation Marks • Speaking/Listening -- Discussion #1Week 3Lesson 3What distinguishes a good read from great literature?• Reading -- Plot • Writing -- Sequencing (a Personal Narrative) • Language -- Word Choice • Speaking/Listening -- Discussion #2Week 4Lesson 4What can you learn about yourself through writing?• Reading -- Theme • Writing -- Conclusions (a Personal Narrative) • Language -- Imagery • Speaking/Listening -- Discussion #3Week 5Lesson 5How do you speak effectively?• Reading -- Conflict • Writing -- Peer Editing and Revising a Final Draft • Language -- Commas • Speaking/Listening -- Book Report #1Week 6Lesson 6Week #6: How do people find information?• Reading -- Main Ideas • Writing -- Prewriting (a Persuasive Essay) • Language -- Colons • Speaking/Listening -- Discussion #4Week 7Lesson 7How do we draw meaning and understanding from a given text?• Reading -- Supporting Details • Writing -- Thesis Statements • Language -- Parallel Structure • Speaking/Listening -- Discussion #5Week 8Lesson 8How does the media shape our view of the world and ourselves?• Reading -- Inferences • Writing -- Introductions • Language -- Context Clues • Speaking/Listening -- Discussion #6Week 9Lesson 9How can editorials be used to better the quality of human life?• Reading -- Point of View • Writing -- Body Paragraphs • Language -- Semicolons • Speaking/Listening -- Discussion #7Week 10Lesson 10How can language be powerful?• Reading -- Connotation • Writing -- Conclusions • Language -- Transitions • Speaking/Listening -- Book Report #2
I have a Juris Doctor from the S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah; a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix; and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brigham Young University. I taught high school English for eight years (with endorsements in English and Reading), and I currently teach ESL online. I am also a former prosecuting attorney, and I currently practice law in several different areas.
Homework Offered
I expect that students will be prepared for class by completing any assigned readings as listed in the syllabus. Each student will need a copy of reading materials (many ebooks are available for free on Project Gutenberg--see supply list for links). Additionally, I expect students to read at least 20 minutes a day from a self-selected novel. Reading on a regular basis provides important exposure to spelling, vocabulary, and language conventions, which transfer to an improvement of students' writing skills.1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Students will receive feedback on one academic essay per semester: narrative essay (Part 1), persuasive essay (Part 2), and literature analysis essay (Part 3). Most writing assignments will be peer or self-graded. Other assignments, such as book reports or presentations, will be presented orally via video presentations. If you need a letter grade for your student at the end of a term, please let me know when the student enrolls in the class so I can track participation and assignments.Grades Offered
These texts will be required for use in class (links to free ebooks on Project Gutenberg given with each title): • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (ebook available for free at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1661) • The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2 by Edgar Allan Poe (ebook available for free at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2148) • Grimms' Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (ebook available for free at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2591) I'm a strong proponent of students learning how to find books that interest them. Many assignments from class will be drawn from novels that students self-select based on their own interests and reading levels. Below are some links to websites where there are suggestions of novels to read. None of those options are required (nor have they been vetted by me, so please use your own parental discretion about what is appropriate for your students), but they may give your students a jumping off point to find their own books. Local libraries (and librarians) are great resources, too! Here are some suggested websites for ideas: • https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/9th-grade-books/ • https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1557257510/maryvilleschoolsorg/ q3j2cgwq1mtrccz6zexc/SummerRdgSuggestions2019MJHS-EnglishI-1.pdf • https://bookriot.com/books-for-9th-graders/ • https://readingmiddlegrade.com/books-for-ninth-graders/ • https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/9th-grade-summer-reading-list/ • https://homeschool-curriculum.org/9th-grade-reading-list/
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Each class will use Nearpod to complete writing assignments, discussions, and classroom activities, but Nearpod does not require students to create an account. Students will be asked to enter their first name only when entering the website so that assignments can be tracked by the teacher (content remains anonymous to other students). In my supply section, I have some links to websites where there are suggestions of novels to read. None of those options are required (nor have they been vetted by me, so please use your own parental discretion about what is appropriate for your students), but they may give your students a jumping off point to find their own books.
One of the common core curriculum standards for 9th grade includes the analysis of U.S. documents; therefore, we will be reviewing the Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." Additionally, we will be reading the following texts (see Learner Supply List for links to free ebooks on Project Gutenberg): • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle • The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2 by Edgar Allan Poe • Grimms' Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm • Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Average rating:4.8Number of reviews:(358)
Welcome! I'm very excited to be your teacher! I live in Idaho in the United States. I enjoy reading and writing young adult novels, traveling around the world with my family, and kayaking on the Snake River. I have a Juris Doctor from the S.J....
Self-Paced Class
$35
weekly or $350 for all content10 pre-recorded lessons
10 weeks of teacher feedback
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 11 learners
Ages: 13-16
