English 1 Grade 9: Explorers Unlocking the World of Literature Semester 2
This 2nd semester course homeschoolers embark on a journey through the realms of literature & creative expression, analyzing classics, crafting essays, and developing communication skills! Small class ensures more individualized attention.
Kathie Harsch
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(68)
Star Educator
What's included
32 live meetings
26 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. You will need to read texts outside of class to be prepared for class discussions. A few parts of projects may need to be done outside of class. About 1 hour per week outside of LIVE class time, unless more time is needed.Assessment
I will be using rubrics to assess your writing assignments and projects. I will be providing weekly written reports to both learners and parents to keep learners on target for completion.Class Experience
US Grade 9
9th grade ELA description of class Semester 2 😊I keep class sizes small to give more individualized attention to my students. OVERVIEW OF 9th GRADE ENGLISH I SEMESTER 2: In this semester's course, I won’t teach you what to think, but HOW to think and how to get those ideas into your own words through a variety of texts and projects. We will expand on your reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and critical thinking skills. WHEN WE MEET & HOMEWORK: This course meets two days per week, and at least one hour of reading will need to be done outside of class to prepare for our discussions in class. Additionally, you may need to do some parts of the projects outside of LIVE class time. IMPORTANT: I will be posting the Google Classroom link for your section in the Outschool classroom the day before LIVE classes begin. Google Classroom is where students can access all reading texts and assignments for this course. All messages, however, will be inside our Outschool classroom to adhere to Outschool’s privacy policies. OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES IN 9th GRADE ENGLISH I SEMESTER 2 WILL INCLUDE: (Please see below for weekly and daily breakdown): - discussion - lesson on grammar, vocabulary, reading or writing - writing/assignment/quiz completion time -review and discussion of homework expectations before next class. HOW I WILL ASSESS: Quizzes in Google Forms Rubrics based on the standards used by the Department of Defense (Common Core Standards) These are the highest standards and help you prepare for college and careers. WHAT WE WILL STUDY: Please see the syllabus for this We will be using a variety of learning strategies and media for this course, some of which may include: PDFs, Digital Weekly Assignments in Google Docs, Google Slides or Google Forms. I will also be using Google Slide lessons, discussions, and YouTube videos. Everything will be provided for you in Google Classroom, but the link to your section will be posted in Outschool. Parents: All parent communication must remain in the Outschool Classroom. I will share all information about your child’s progress in Outschool messages to you. This is per Outschool rules. I will be teaching this course as inquiry-based and will be facilitating the class discussions around the texts we will be reading and writing. I will also be helping students to remain kind and understanding in their differences of opinion to guide them to doing the same and listening to each other.
Learning Goals
We will expand on your reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and critical thinking skills through inquiry-based study of grade-level texts and projects.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)2 Units
32 Lessons
over 16 WeeksUnit 1: Why is Dystopian Fiction Fascinating?
Lesson 1:
Introduction to Unit 3
Teens are fascinated by dystopian fiction - part science fiction mixed with the fear of an unknown future combined with a bit of individualism; therefore, students will examine the themes, societies, and characters of dystopian fiction while practicing reading, writing, discussion, vocabulary and grammar.
Students will be introduced to the first unit of semester 2 and how the course will proceed, including homework expectations of the readings, class discussions, and assignments. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Vocabulary for Unit 3
Students will be introduced to the vocabulary for unit 1 in an interactive, engaging lesson. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Reading: Someone Might be watching: Introduction to Dystopian Fiction
Students will read an informational article about the main topic of the unit and will discuss any examples of dystopian literature or movies they may have already experienced. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Reading: Why Teens Find the End of the World Fascinating
Students will read the article to find the central idea, perspective, and identify aspects of the structure of the article. They will also compare some of the ideas from this article to the article they read in lesson 3. 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This course may cover some literature that contains violence, references to racism, and suicide (Odyssey, Civil Rights era, war, the Holocaust). Students will not be told what to think about any of the literature; however, I will not allow for an degrading comments about any ethnic or gender groups.
Also, third party tools we may be using for learning and projects are:
Kahoot (for review games), and YouTube videos (for some lessons, background info, live performances of texts), Google Docs and Google Slides (for assignments and projects), and, Google Forms (for quizzes).
Pre-Requisites
Must be able to read and write in English.
Supply List
Students will need a personal Google account (with parental permissions of course) so they can get all the materials I will be sharing with them. I will be putting all assignments including homework inside Google Classroom. This makes it easier for me to share files and collect assignments. The link to your section’s Google Classroom will be given inside the Outschool classroom on the first day of LIVE class.
Joined June, 2022
4.9
68reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Florida Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of South Florida
I have taught English Language Arts for the past 27 years in the public school system in grades 6-9. I love teaching the joy of reading and writing with my students, and they seem to enjoy our time together as well.
I have taught the above literature during most of those 27 years, so I am mindful of keeping out any of my own personal biases by focusing on student thought and debate that is respectful and text-based. I have also taken classes in teaching about the Holocaust as well as visiting both the Florida Holocaust museum as well as the National Holocaust museum. I have also personally studied the Civil Rights era to learn more about human rights issues as well as issues related to the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. I believe in an inclusive environment, which is why I choose to teach on Outschool.
I'm also a writer and blogger with several published books and a variety of articles on my blog, Teach2Write for teachers.Reviews
Live Group Course
$50
weekly or $800 for 32 classes2x per week, 16 weeks
50 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-15
4-6 learners per class
