Welcome English Language Development, English 9 and Reading Strategies students and parents.

English Language Development

ELD is a English as a Second Language course. The core skills in this course are phonology, morphology, lexicon, syntax and semantics. Students must test out of this program with a proficient AZELLA score.

ELD does not have a course text, but uses the Intensive English program. All ELD students are enrolled into a Reading Strategies course also.

Reading Strategies

Reading Strategies is a course that strengthens reading, writing, comprehension, literature elements, grammar and critical analysis. Students enrolled in this course will read their own selections and use these books to motivate and learn core reading skills.

English 9

English 9 is a rigorous course designed to challenge and enlighten students. Students should expect about an hour of homework each night. A typical night of homework should consists of studying vocabulary, reviewing the story and notes, and composing an assigned writing piece. Throughout the school year, students will ponder the question, “What can one person do to change the world?” and "What makes a hero?"

 

English 9: World Literature

This year we are embarking on an adventure as we explore literature from around the world:

 

• Quarter 1: Literary Focus--Ancient Middle East, Greece, and Rome, India, China
• Quarter 2: Literary Focus--Japan, Africa, and the Middle East, Europe from Middle Ages to Enlightenment
• Quarter 3: Literary Focus--Nineteenth Century, Modern World Literature; Quarter 4: Literary Focus--Modern World Literature

   

Of course, literature and writing go hand in hand. The course covers all types of writing, with emphasis on narrative and expository writing, as well as research techniques. English 10 will also work on business / career (functional writing) skills this year.

 

A new component to language arts this year is group discussion. In fact, students will be required to master several “benchmarks” related to discussion.

 

This year the high school will be on a block schedule. To take full advantage of the block schedule, our class will participate in weekly literature circles and writer’s workshops. Each quarter, students will read a different novel or play and meet regularly with a small group to discuss the literature. Students will also participate regularly in writer’s workshops, where they will hone their writing skills.

 

There will be a comprehensive final exam at the end of both semesters. This will count for 20% of the semester grade.

 

Classroom Rules of Conduct:

My number one rule is respect.  Students need to respect the teacher, other students, themselves, property, and time.  I expect students to follow all of Combs’ rules, both in and out of my classroom. 

Students are expected to “be there” when in the classroom.  This means actively participating, supporting others in the class, and listening respectfully when others are talking.  Our classroom needs to be a safe place where everyone works together and where each person feels comfortable sharing and trying new things.  Part of respect is using language and demonstrating behaviors that build people up, not tear them down.