G11-12 ELA Trial Class

Description

We will read short stories, articles, fiction and non-fiction texts that allow us to examine the world in a more analytical way.  We will ponder the big questions of life while looking at minute details of textual, visual, spoken, and media communications.  Students will analyze and discuss literature and media, write and revise essays, creative pieces and research papers, prepare individual and group projects and presentations and contribute to the class in a meaningful and productive way.  The course will teach many English Language Learning strategies to bridge the second language gap from proficiency to fluency. The primary purpose of this class is to empower students to enrich their lives through intensive literature and non-fiction study, extensive writing and reflective thinking.  We will use these texts as a springboard to examine the world and ourselves.  All of the writers presented in this syllabus tell their own story about the world and being a part of it.  How can we reinterpret echoes of the past and create our own unique verse?

Units:

• How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg & Autobiography
• Life of Pi and Religion Research and Synthesis; Fiction vs. Non-fiction
• Born a Crime and Aparteid in South Africa; Discussion of Racism in the World; Humor and Satire The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
• Credible Sources, Analyzing Media & Writing the Expository Essay
• Famous Speeches, Persuasive Speaking & Research Paper

Lesson Format: 

• Warm-up: Speaking & Vocabulary Investigation
• Journal: Write about a Topic from the Lesson; Brainstorm & Writing Practice
•  Lesson: Literary Topic Dissected  
  • Group Reading & Analysis 
  • Discussion
• Independent Reading & Writing Assignment (to complete at home)
• Enrichment Activities – connect literature to modern day & your own life!

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will learn, identify and apply literary terms essential to understanding the literature they are reading.
2. Students will study, learn, use and be tested on new vocabulary words encountered in the literature study.
3. Students will practice and improve their writing skills by utilizing a variety of writing strategies and writing types (from short answer to multi-paragraph essays), including pre-writing, peer editing and evaluation, writing portfolios, and in class journal activities.
4. Students will utilize speaking and listening skills to participate in the following activities: class discussions, small group discussion, oral reading and oral presentations.
5. Students will improve upon and demonstrate research, study and computer skills by utilizing library and computer lab resources for a variety of assignments.
6. Students will demonstrate responsibility and accountability by being a supportive, productive member of the classroom community.  
7. Students will develop the ability to:
8. Analyze and assess a variety of literary works in a variety of literary genres including short story, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama.
9. Organize and synthesize their analyses in cogent, cohesive, and concise responses and essays.
10. Demonstrate the depth of their comprehension by summarizing and paraphrasing the content of a variety of literary works.
11. Formulate and write intelligent, well-structured responses to course assignments.
12. Defend their conclusions and ideas through relevant references and quotations from text.
13. Relate concepts that arise from class assignments and discussions with elements of their own life and society.
14. Present classroom projects comfortably before their peers, individually and in cooperative study groups.

About the Teacher

Ms. Lara has taught English for fifteen years in different countries around the world. After getting her BA in Sociology and Photography at the University of California, San Diego, she worked with students with special needs for several years, trying to understand every kind of learner and diverse modalities of helping students to utilize their strengths and access learning from their own points of view. She has taught in Honduras and Hungary, as well as many kinds of schools around the US. After teaching English, Science, Art, and Music to 2nd, 6th, 10th and 11th grade students in the Caribbean, she came back to the
US, and got her teaching credential at California State Monterey Bay. Following this, she taught at a small high school in Santa Cruz, CA for twelve years, where she instructed 9-12th grade English, Art, Digital Photography, and History as well as Advanced Placement classes for 5 years. In 2012, she took a hiatus to complete a year as a Fulbright exchange teacher in Budapest, where she taught ESL and was an ambassador for the US. She was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2015, and received a commendation for her work in 2018. She now tutors students in many subjects, while being a student herself, pursuing another degree. She enjoys working with students and learning from them, and finding new ways to communicate and understand the world around us.

Questions?

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