Honors English 9
Class Letter from Teacher & Facilitator: Mrs. Nira Dale
In Our Class...
In Honors English 9, we will delve deeply into a wide variety of rich literary texts in a fashion that will nurture compelling and thought provoking discussions. We will regularly carry out textual (and cross-textual) analyses with critical thought in efforts to exceed the surface exercises in basic plot summary. During the course of this school year, we will sharpen our writing and language skills through multiple mini-research projects, which will often result in group/individual class presentations. ...
IT'S ALL ABOUT LITERACY!
It's ALL about LITERACY!
Honors English Literature Selections ...
(Click on image for larger view of selections)
Outside Reading (Novels):
Summer Selections (2 of 3 should be chosen)~ Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte); Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd); TheThings They Carried (Tim O'Brien)
School Year Outside Reading Selections
- Animal Farm (George Orwell)
- Pygmalion (George Bernard Shaw)
- Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
- A Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry)
- Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)
- The Killing Sea (Richard Lewis)
Literary Genres:
Fiction and Nonfiction
Short Stories (include, but certainly not limited to "The Lady or the Tiger," F.R. Stockton; "The Scarlet Ibis," James Hurst; "The Cask of Amontillado," Edgar Allen Poe...)
Poetry~ In addition to our 2nd Nine Weeks Poetry Unit, students will explicate (unfold, interpret, and analyze) a different assigned poem virtually EVERY weekend in preparation for "Poetry Cafe Mondays"
Complex/ Informational Text~ Our class will cover a plethora of complex and informational texts as we will read a number of historical documents and famous speeches along with news articles and scholarly journals during mini research tasks and project-based learning activities.
Classic Selections (Drama & Mythology):
- William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
- Homer's Odyssey
Projects & Presentations
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
• HOMEWORK IS ALWAYS A REQUIREMENT: Mrs. Dale NEVER gives "busy" work. Homework assignments are ESSENTIAL to YOUR success in the lesson for the following day of class. Also, without the extended practice that homework assignments provide, it is unlikely that you will reach mastery level in the given content objective. Therefore, ALWAYS complete homework assignments (e.g. assigned readings, writing tasks, text assignments and exercises, etc.)
• BELL WORK ("DO-NOW"): Each day you enter my room, you will have an essential task or "DO-NOW." Begin the task BEFORE the tardy bell rings. The task will often involve a measure of reading and thinking about what you've read. Therefore, do not waste time or disturb others by entering class talking or socializing. (NO ONE is allowed to stand or socialize in my doorway before class.)
• HALL PASSES WILL NOT BE GIVEN: Our time is VERY limited, and there is always a lot for us to accomplish in EVERY lesson; thus, you are expected to take care of any personal business (e.g. restroom, phone, locker, etc.) BEFORE you enter my room. This is not only an issue of responsibility, but this is now also an issue of safety. (If there exists a medical condition that requires restroom visits or other outside-of-the-classroom need, please have your parent make me aware of such a need by contacting me personally.
• BRING ACCOUTREMENTS TO CLASS EACH DAY: Although most of our class materials are available digitally, and I plan to make a valiant effort to be as "paperless" as possible this year, you must bring the following each day: A. Binder (w/ dividers tabs and paper) B. Vocabulary Workshop workbook, C. Ear buds & Flash drive (You will often have to use available laptop/desktop computers to save files too large to upload to Edmodo or email accounts) D. Outside Reading Materials (Novels) E. Writing Utensils (black or blue pen; A stylus would be very beneficial for iPad use) F. Of course...iPad--Charged BEFORE class G. iPad Applications (Be sure to visit www.dalesdigitalclassroom2.weebly.com to view complete list of required iPad apps. and bookmarks for Mrs. Dale's class.)
- iPad "Plie" Positions : REMEMBER to keep your iPad charged BEFORE you come to school. There are not enough power outlets for everyone to plug in chargers. Hence, you are to exercise your role of being a responsible student by keeping your iPad charged at night. (See more on iPad "Plie" Positions in section below.)
iPad "Plié" Positions for Mrs. Dale's Class
1st Position-Flat & Face-Up
2nd Position-Upright
3rd Position-Face Down
Load these APPS ON YOUR IPAD BEFORE 8/19/2013
iBooks should should be your 1st download.
(Just learned that iBooks is not preloaded.)
The following apps will serve the capacity for you to use your iPad in four modalities for my class:
- Recording (Taking Notes/ Writing)
- Collaborating (Brainstorming/ Problem solving)
- Creating/ Presenting/ Publishing
- Responding (Formative/Summative Assessments)
(Be sure to visit www.dalesdigitalclassroom2.weebly.com to view complete list of the names and "How to..." links for the required iPad apps. and bookmarks for Mrs. Dale's class.)
- Penzu
- Penultimate
- Notability
- Note Anytime
- Evernote
- Markup
- iBrainstorm
- Popplet Lite
- ThingLink
- Haiku Deck
- Prezi
- Educreations
- Tellagami
- QCards (Quizlet)
- Socrative (Student)
- Mighty Meeting
- Nearpod
- Gmail (please open a Gmail account --as it is not blocked by our school network--and "add to homes-creen")
- DropBox (Please open a free account.)
- Edmodo (Please DO NOT use the app version. Right now it is not very functional. Open the site in Safari and "add to homes-creen")
MAKE-UP WORK POLICY
• Find out what assignments you missed--Most ALL assignments will be available online allowing you to stay caught up with
the rest of the class when absent.
• Vocabulary or Spelling Tests will be EVERY WEEK; therefore, if you are absent on these such days you will be expected
to take the test immediately upon your return.
• When ABSENT on TEST DAYS, see me immediately before or after class to schedule your make-up test for an appointed time
within a day or two from your return.
Vocabulary Workshop: "Weekly Vocab Champs"
EDMODO...
Our Primary Learning Management System..
1. Dale students ALL 2013/14
2. Dale Students Period ___ (your class period)
3. Columbia/ Harvard/ MIT/ Princeton/ Yale (Assigned Vocab. Team)
View the video below, (created by a wonderful Edmodo teacher, Travis Monk of Indiana U.S.), to get a good understanding of how you can get the MOST out of your Edmodo student account.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
7 Habits Starting the New School Year
(Created by My Edmodo PLN Partner, Sandy King)
Contact Mrs. Nira Dale
Email: ndale@florencek12.org
Website: www.dalesdigitalclassroom2.weebly.com
Phone: 256-768-2400