Quarter 1

From

08/30/2011

To

09/04/2011

Content

-To begin exploring essential questions for course
-To develop specific reading skills while engaging students in discussion, reflection and written response to literature
-Introduction to analysis/critical thinking
-Focus on elements of the short story
-Vocabulary building
-Grammar

Skills

-Read for pleasure and meaning with a focus on active reading strategies
-Develop questioning skills
-Recognize significant themes and ideas in literature, particularly the short story
-Identify and understand the significance of literary genres
-Actively participate in class discussions and follow-up questions
-Write critical responses to literature
-Use reading to build vocabulary

Resources

-War Dances, Sherman Alexie
-Several short stories and poems from around the world
-Vocabulary Workshop, Level D
-A Pocket Style Manual, 9th Edition, Diane Hacker


 

Instructional Strategies

-Discussion and lecture (small groups and whole class)
-Active questioning
-Reading aloud, discovering words
-Individual and group work in class, using a variety of writing strategies
-Individual and group presentations
-Multiple drafts of written work
-Research skills

Assessment

-Weekly vocabulary quizzes
-Small group projects
-Several in-class writing exercises
-1-2 major essays
-Timed in-class essays
-Creative writing

Outcomes

Students will:
-become increasingly aware of processes and growth as readers, writers and thinkers
-ask different kinds of questions about a text
-identify text features such as signal words, structures, and specialized vocabulary
-participate in small- and large-group discussions about reading and texts
-participate in active listening of fellow students in text discussions
-articulate follow-up questions
-name the structure of a text and understand how the structure contributes to communicate meaning
-respond to text excerpts and themes; articulate main ideas and themes