Grade 9 & 10 English Language Arts (ELA) Literature Semester 2 of 3

This 12-week course will cover part two of the 9th and 10th Grade English Languages Arts Common Core Standards in a multi-age setting. 

Homeschooled students can benefit from a full and complete curriculum whereas students who are already taking ELA at school can enroll for additional support, practice, or enrichment. 

Literacy development is a lifelong journey that is composed of many complex concepts and understandings that are not limited to the written Western page. In 2021, reading and writing has taken on new lengths. Importantly, we are now exposed to a much wider variety of literature in the form of film, documentary, theatre, podcast, blogs, songs, webpages, magazine articles, and so much more. Literacy includes the capacity to learn to communicate, read, write, think, explore, and solve problems. Literacy skills are used in paper, digital, and live interactions where people: 

    * analyze critically and solve problems 

    * understand and communicate meaning 

    * create a variety of creative and analytic content

    * read, view, and listen for fun

    * make connections both personally and intertextually 
    * engage in personal summaries and analyses

    * and more!
   
With examples, support, and practice, students will have the opportunity to deepen their critical skills as they work with fun, poignant, age-appropriate, and engaging content… all the while participating in focused conversations and completing core standards.



Because I encounter students with all reading and comprehension levels, I provide a diverse instruction to meet their needs. For example, larger print texts will also be presented in audio form (mp3 file) that the students may download at their leisure. Physical movement will be introduced at the beginning of each class to assist in concepts’ retention, and graphic/illustrated PDF and PNG files will be provided to assist those who grasp concepts more visually.


January 8/9: Introductions & Icebreakers
January 11/12: Developing Your True Writer's Voice
January 16/17: V for Vendetta: Part 1
January 18/19: Identity & Writing: Part 1
January 23/24: V for Vendetta: Part 2
January 25/26: Identity & Writing: Part 2
January 30/31: V for Vendetta: Part 3

February 1/2: Ethics & Writing
February 6/7: TedTalk: "Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator"
February 8/9: An Essential Writer's Toolbox
February 13/14: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Documentary
February 15/16: Avoiding Plagiarism 

February 20/21: NO CLASS or assignment, Midterm Break
February 22/23: NO CLASS or assignment, Midterm Break

February 27/28: Songs: Black Bird - The Beatles, Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple, What They'll Say About us - FINNEAS

March 1/2: Writing Dialogue
March 6/7: Poetry: Tattoo - Ted Kooser & The Laughing Heart - Charles Bukowski
March 8/9: Write Your Own Essay in MLA Format: Part 1
March 13/14: From the Ashes: Part 1
March 15/16: Write Your Own Essay in MLA Format: Part 2
March 20/21: From the Ashes: Part 2
March 22/23: Write Your Own Essay in MLA Format: Part 3
March 27/28: From the Ashes: Part 3
March 29/30: Final MLA Essay (Writer's Portfolio)

April 3/4: Class Party!
April 5/6: *makeup class, if needed!

Weekly schedule:

Mondays/Tuesdays: Live lesson with exposure and instruction of the assigned literature. Students are asked to come to class up-to-date with the assigned reading, listening, or viewing material and come ready to engage in critical thinking and discussion with their peers. They will leave with a literary assignment (written, video, audio, or graphic) at the end of each lesson to be handed in each Thursday, by 7pm ET, if they would like feedback on them.

Wednesdays/Thursdays: Live lesson where students will complete in-class writing assignments that will fine-tune their writing skills. Being vague when we speak or write is a natural part of language learning. As we seek to communicate effectively and tighten our production skills, good grammar and clear writing are essential toolboxes to allow us to communicate more effectively.

I provide written feedback on all submitted assignments and can grade assignments upon request.

Students should be prepared to engage with the material and their fellow peers at Grade level. However, due to the interruption of learning these past years, I will make sure that all students feel safe and welcome in my class and leave with a positive view of literacy!

Please note that upon registration for this class, you agree that I do not share recordings of group classes for the privacy and safety of all learners.