English 9 – Mrs. Heimes
Class Overview
Essential Learning – Using a text at grade level students will be able to make accurate inferences about the text.
To meet this goal, we will read a wide variety of genres on diverse topics.
The Odyssey
The Miracle Worker
Romeo and Juliet
Short Stories
Graphic Novels
Poetry
Students will also be choosing four novels/collections for personal reading.
Term 1 – Book 1 – Memoir
Book 2 – Award-Winning Book
Term II – Book 1 – Poetry Collections
Book 2 – Award Winning Book
The media specialists and I will aid students in their choice of books. Students will read for 10 minutes in class each day, but should be reading at home as well. There will be a project at the end of each book.
Essential Learning – It is the expectation that each 9th grader will synthesize information through summary and paraphrase of an age-appropriate text.
At the end of the term, students will produce a research paper. This paper will be linked with our study of Romeo and Juliet. Within this study of research we will work on the above skills and learn about the Modern Language Association (MLA) style of research writing and citation.
Essential Learning: 9th grade students will be able to define and use appropriate vocabulary.
Throughout the year, students will be asked to learn and study 120 vocabulary words. Although this is a specific vocabulary study, students will also learn vocabulary linked to text and areas of study throughout the class.
Essential Learning – Every 9th grader will master character analysis.
Throughout our reading study, we will concentrate on character with specific activities focused on character analysis.
Essential Learning – It is the expectation that every 9th grader master the narrative and expository essay according to the district standards with regard to the Writing Graduation Demonstration Exams.
All 9th graders will take the Writing Graduation Demonstration Exams (WGDE) during the year. In English 9, we will focus on these two types of writing. Students will be given specific instruction and will write several practice exams as well as many pieces of processed writing.