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The 9th grade language arts curriculum explores classic literature and multi-cultural literature with a special focus on the Pacific Rim as that is the area of focus for Social Studies.
Below is an overview of the year. It is a rough guide to where the year is heading. However, education is a journey and journeys rarely stay on track. The curriculum will evolve as both the teacher and the students see new connections and find enticing areas to explore.
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1st Quarter
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This quarter students will explore how an author's culture and experiences influence voice as they read Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street. We will also explore the use of figurative language in this piece and in a number of poems. Writing Focus - Students will focus on word choice and voice as they try their hand at writing creative pieces like vignettes and poetry. They will also write a compare/contrast essay. Independent Reading Focus - Pacific Rim multicultural.
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4th Quarter |
This quarter challenges students in a whole new way as they dive into the world of Shakespeare with a study of Romeo and Juliet. Students will act, edit, direct, even dance! They will really sharpen their reading skills as they learn to de-code Elizabethan English. Writing Focus - definition essay on tragedy (literary analysis) Independent Reading Focus - poetry
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2nd Quarter |
This quarter, students will learn about about allegory, fable, satire, and the use of propaganda through a study of Orwell's novel Animal Farm. Students will explore how language is used to persuade and even manipulate and also make connections to the philosophies behind various forms of government. Writing Focus - Students will write a persuasive letter this quarter. Independent Reading Focus - classic novel.
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3rd Quarter |
Students will study the non-fiction story Red Scarf Girl which follows the author's real life experiences growing up in China during Mao's cultural revolution. Writing Focus - research, annotated bibliography Independent Reading Focus - non-fiction
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