I’ve been starting to play around a little bit with my curriculum/ course-framework for next year and thought some of you might enjoy seeing how I organize my year.
I’ll be sharing ninth grade English today, and – hopefully – tenth & eleventh grade/ AP Language and Composition in the future.
First, though, here are a few things you should know about the course(s) I teach:
– I teach in a speciality center/ STEM Academy where students apply to an individual program and must maintain a certain GPA in order to stay in it. My particular program is the Center for Mass Communications. My students are (mostly) interested in things like broadcast journalism, production, and graphic design – that’s why they entered the program. But, as I like to say, they get English as a *bonus. 🙂
– As a result of the above point, I work closely with another teacher who focuses on all things Mass Communications. Although I would consider my class a “typical” English class, I do tend to focus a little bit more on nonfiction, journalism, and current-event type of things. I’m also very fortunate to have access to a lot of great technology resources because of the program I am in.
– All of my classes are Pre-AP or AP level.
– For the most part, students have the same two teachers (myself and my partner) for ninth thru eleventh grade. *This is especially nice because I don’t have to “start over” every year getting to know the students and setting the expectation for my class, and because – if I don’t get to something one year – I simply move it to the next! (They take English 12 back at their base schools but are technically still in the program then.)
– I really like to have a year-long “theme” for each of my classes. However, like most of you I’m sure, I also am held to state standards and other curriculum guidelines. What I have found works best is to divide my year into two semesters with each one having a different theme. Within that, my teaching is still primarily SKILL-based, but I like for everything to have a kind of “flow” to it.
I think that about does it as far as “background” for you, so here’s what I teach (in order) in ninth grade:
I hope this gave some of you – especially first-year teachers, I know how DESPERATELY I wanted ideas/help when I was just starting – some good ideas as you plan for the fall… I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about specific parts and would LOVE to hear what you teach/ how you organize your year!
Time to get out of my pjs and on with the day…
E