High School English - Skills for Success

This class is designed to provide the skills students need to be successful when reading and writing at the high school level. The age of 13 is set for an advanced reader while the maximum age of 18 is set for students who struggle with English in high school and who need a refresher course to build upon skills that they have already developed.

Each week we will cover a set of skills that are designed to provide students the skills and techniques needed to be successful in high school: close reading and analysis, responding to comprehension questions, summarizing, quote analysis, developing a thesis, essay writing, citations, and locating good sources.

Students will have the opportunity to choose their own topics most weeks and to focus on their own interests while applying the skills.

Here is the weekly schedule. The class meets twice every week:
Week One:
     - Close Reading and Analysis (2 Days)
          - Annotating and Note-Taking
          - Discussion on an Article of Choice within a Group Discussion
Week Two:
     - Responding to Comprehension Questions
          - Discussion and Comparing and Contrasting Peer Work
     - Summarizing Reading in Own Words
          - Share Out and Discussion
Week Three:
     - Quote Analysis
          - Short Story Reading and Discussion for Development
     - Developing a Thesis
          - Individualized Work
Week Four:
     - Developing a Thesis Continued...
          - Individualized Work
          - Idea Development
          - Outlining (If Time)
     - Citations and Locating a Good Resource
          - How to Create a Citation
          - What is the difference between a good source and a bad one?

The schedule is set but student needs will be met and students will be challenged even if they show signs of mastery or have covered the topics before. Each student's work is individualized and focused. 

If students struggle with certain topics, we will spend additional time on them. All of the resources will be provided and if we are unable to do something due to student needs, that class will be offered for students at an additional time to help! It is important to recognize that student mastery is a focus and we will spend additional time on those skills before moving on if need be. Since most of the skills build upon the rest. Our goal is to reach citations, but the importance of the other skills (ones which are introduced in middle school and then expected to be applied in high school) are more important. Additional time will be spent there if necessary. This means that the schedule may be somewhat fluid and flexible. If you have questions, please let me know!