English Language Arts: Ms. Tina Pulley

Key Features of Core Standards for English Language Arts Reading: Text Complexity and growth of comprehension Writing: Text types, responding to reading, and research Speaking and Listening: Flexible communication and collaboration Language: Conventions, effective use, and vocabulary

Reading The focus in reading in a common core classroom is twofold. Emphasis is placed on the sophistication of what students read and on the skill with which they read. Students must demonstrate an ability to make connections beyond the surface. Reading becomes an action that discovers inconsistencies and poor reasoning within texts, considers textual evidence, and recognize ideas among texts.

Writing Writing within the Common Core places an emphasis on specific writing types: arguments, informative/explanatory texts, and narratives. Students will draw upon and write about evidence from literary and informational texts. Research standards are included as a form of inquiry that leads to written thought even though research is embedded throughout the Common Core.

Speaking and Listening Speaking and Listening goes beyond formal presentation. The standards within this strand require students possess a plethora of oral communication and interpersonal skills. In a global society, we are called upon to work cooperatively, express and listen carefully to ideas, integrate information from oral, visual, quantitative, and media sources, evaluate what is heard, use media and visual displays strategically, and adapt speech according culture, context, and task.

Language: Conventions, Effective Use, and Vocabulary The language standard includes the essential “rules” of standard written and spoken English. It approaches language as a matter of craft, or skill and informed choice among alternatives. Vocabulary in this course focuses on understanding words and phrases, their relationships as well as their nuances (connotations), acquiring new vocabulary both generally academic and domain- specific words and phrases.

Common Core Anchor Standards A Portrait of Students Who are College and Career Ready in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Language: Demonstrate independence. Build strong knowledge. Respond to the varying demands of audience, task, purpose, and discipline Comprehend as well as critique Value evidence Utilize technology and digital media strategically and capably. Appreciate other perspectives and cultures.

English Language Arts Course Culturally diverse literature (The Giver, MAUS I and II; Copper Sun, Silent Spring, Animal Farm, Monster, The Outsiders, films as text, etc.) Solicit students responses (cooperative teaming, media presentations, argument and counterargument) Grammar-seeks to correct errors that are so common they are not seen as errors… Construct writing for a variety of purposes and audiences through various modes of organization Concentrate on the effective uses of language Unconventional vocabulary (derivatives of words requiring knowledge of suffixes and how they affect the function of a given word)

SpringBoard The College Board’s official Pre-AP (Advanced Placement) program Starts with the end in mind (Embedded Assessments) What must I learn to earn an “A”? Global in scope Workbooks…(Not the curriculum)

Classroom Requirements: All students must possess a book to read at all times in each class. Book checks are random. Three-Ring Binder with dividers Two one-subject notebooks. Index Cards Highlighters

Homework Read for thirty minutes each night, Monday- Thursday. “Lifeline Journal” Vocabulary exercises Written Responses Mini-Projects and Major Projects (Utopia) View Wiki weekly! Homework Assignments to be recorded in Agenda!

Pertinent Information Agenda (Entries should be made for each class even if “none” is recorded!) Remind: I will send text messages concerning pertinent information. (I do not send text messages for daily homework assignments.) Wiki: