9th Grade Language Arts
Course Syllabus for Mrs. D. Santos’ classes
1999-2000
Welcome to Simon Sanchez High School and also to your
English 9 class! As you may already know, my name is Ms. Santos, and you will
refer to me as “Ms. Santos.” I will be your instructor for the school year
1999-2000. My goal is to prepare you to speak, listen, read, and following: 1).
Perform and create language; 2). Select your choice of books: 3). Open
interpretations of readings, writing ideas, discussions, and journals. I hope
this year will be as enjoyable for you as I’m sure it will be for me.
Course Description: This course introduces students to
skills in Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, and in the area of Study. The Whole
Language approach will be used to develop reading and writing skills, as well
as comprehension. Vocabulary will be taught with and emphasis on using context
clues. Also, study skills will be taught in relation to other content areas:
TENTATIVE COURSE
OUTLINE:
1ST Quarter
I. Introduction
A. Introduction of teacher and students
1. Pairing up of students and interviewing
each other.
B. Introduction of syllabus and Rules and
Requirements.
II. Study Skills
A. Organizational
Skills/time management
B. Outlining
C. Note taking
D. Parts of a Book
E. Self- Evaluation and Goal
Setting
F. Following Instructions
G. Test- taking strategies
H. Interviewing
I. Report Writing/Library
Orientation
III. Vocabulary
A. Dictionary skills
B. Wordskills workbook (Units1-4)
1. Using context to determine meaning
2. Synonyms
3. Antonyms
4. Analogies
5. Word Origins
6. Roots and Affixes
7. Multiple Meanings
IV. Grammar
A. 8 Parts of Speech
V. Writing
A. Process
1. Writing will be introduced
as a process
B. Prewriting Techniques will
be introduced.
1. Brainstorming
2. Free writing
3. Clustering
4. Mapping
5. Listing
6. Prompts
7. Interviewing
C. Journal Writing
VI. Reading
A. Short Stories (TBA)
1. The following Literary
Terms will be introduced:
a. Characters
b. Setting
c. Theme
d. Climax
e. Conflict
f. Plot
g. Point of View
2. Students will be
introduced to the following activities:
a. Reader’s Response
b. Critical Thinking
questions
c. Identifying characteristic
traits
B. Novel: (TBA)
1. Reader’s response
2. Critical thinking questions
3. Character analysis
4. Portfolio project
C. Sustained Silent Reading (SSR)
1. Students will read three or more times a
week for the first ten or fifteen minutes of class.
VII. Public Speaking
A. Expository Essay
B. Current Events
2nd Quarter
I. Vocabulary
A. Wordskills
wordbook (Units 5-8)
II. Grammar
III. Writing
A. Journal
Writing
B. Short
stories
C. Demonstrative
essay
IV. Library Orientation
V. Reading
A. Novel
(TBA)
1. Reader’s
response
2. Critical
thinking questions
3. Character
analysis
4. Portfolio
project
B. Sustained
Silent Reading (SSR)
VI. Poetry
A. Students
will read a variety of poems.
B. Students
will create a poetry book.
VII. Public
Speaking
A. Demonstrative
speech
B. Current
events
3rd Quarter
I. Vocabulary
A. Wordskills
workbook (Units 9-12)
II. Grammar
III. Writing
A. Journal
writing
B. Narrative
essay
IV. Reading
A. Novel
(TBA)
1. Reader’s
response
2. Critical
thinking questions
3. Character
analysis
4. Portfolio
B. Sustained
Silent Reading (SSR)
V. Myths and legends
A. Students
will read a variety of myths and legends.
B. Students
will create a mini multi-cultural myths and legends book.
VI. Public Speaking
A. Narrative
speech
B. Current
events
4th Quarter
I. Vocabulary
A. Wordskills
workbook (Units 13-16)
II. Grammar
III. Writing
A. Journal
writing
B. Persuasive
essay
IV. Reading
A. Sustained
Silent Reading (SSR)
V. Public Speaking
A. Persuasive
speech
VI. Drama
A. Romeo and
Juliet
B. Students
will take part in the following activities:
1. Oral
readings
2. Class
discussions
3. Dramatic
group presentations
4. Character
analysis
5. Portfolio
of play
6. Video
presentation