August 25 - 29

This week we'll work lay the groundwork for some of the skills we'll learn this semester, including reading strategies and writing argument essays. We'll begin a brief unit called, "Hip Hop Goes Global," including an essay by James McBride first printed in National Geographic included in Best African American Essays in 2009.

This unit is adapted from curriculum developed by California State University's Expository Reading and Writing Program.

MONDAY: Every Day Vocabulary assignment.  Go to the library for tour of all of the available services, and help finding an independent reading book. HW: Vocabulary assignment due Wednesday.

TUESDAY: Sentence stem gallery walk around the classroom.  60/60 Share Pair Exercise. HW: Read essay and annotate. HW: SOAPS on article for Thursday.

WEDNESDAY: Silent Sustained Reading Day and whole class whiparound exercise. Due: Every Day vocab sheet, Tweet assignment, independent reading book. 

THURSDAY: Vocabulary Scaffold Organizer.  Annotating and questioning the essay, noticing language. 

FRIDAY: Current event article or video.  Class discussion, Intro to "Universal Outline" format and use. HW: Universal Outline phrases about spying on teens for Tuesday.  Kindred quiz Tuesday. 

Welcome! Week One...

Welcome to 9th Grade Honors English/Language Arts!  I am very excited to be your teacher, and I'm looking forward to a challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable year.  Below is our schedule for the first week:

Tuesday - First day of school!  "Great Wall of Happiness" exercise, syllabus handouts, overview of class, teacher and student contracts.  Homework (HW):  Please bring back signed syllabus for Friday.

Wednesday - Interest inventory exercise. Independent reading overview. HW: Bring independent reading book related to a current event to class on Wednesday for check off.

Thursday - Summer reading book Tweet exercise.  HW: Finish Tweet activity for Wednesday.

Friday - Introduction to "current event" Fridays.  Current event article/SOAPS activity.   HW:  A Day in the Life of You short paper due Monday.  Final tweet exercise and independent reading book due in class Wednesday.