English for Speakers of Other Languages
ESOL 1 (100EL): 2 credits – Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 – Weight 1.0
This course meets every day for 90 minutes. ESOL 1 is designed to provide a solid foundation in basic communicative skills in English. Thematic study centers on recognizing and employing common phrases for use in the high school, the community, and beyond. Students will learn rudimentary English skills such as: the English alphabet, cardinal numbers 1–100, parts of speech, verb conjugation, simple present and simple past tense, telling time, asking and responding to WH questions, following directives, making comparisons, expressing preference, utilizing text features, completing short written responses, and developing vocabulary and spelling skills. Emphasis will be placed on increasing English proficiency in all four language domains – reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
ESOL 2 (101EL): 2 credits – Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 – Weight 1.0
This course meets every day for 90 minutes. ESOL 2 is designed to build upon the solid foundation established in ESOL 1. The course encourages further confidence with basic communicative skills in English, and introduces academic and technical language constructs. Thematic study centers on recognizing and employing common phrases for use in the high school, the community, and beyond. Students will acquire practical English skills such as applying basic grammar and punctuation rules, asking clarifying questions, evaluating and responding to information, using text features and context clues to decode the meaning of narrative and informational text, simple present/past/future tenses, completing analytical written responses, and broadening academic vocabulary and spelling skills. Emphasis will be placed on increasing English proficiency in all four language domains – reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
ESOL 3 (103EL): 1 credit – Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 – Weight 1.0
This course meets every other day for 90 minutes. ESOL 3 is designed to build upon the groundwork established in ESOL 1 and ESOL 2. The course concentrates on advanced communicative skills in English, and enables students to explore specialized academic and technical language constructs. Thematic study centers on recognizing and employing common phrases for use in the high school, the community, and beyond. Students will acquire formal English skills such as: writing with phrasal and discourse–level diversity and complexity, writing and posing questions that foster critical thinking, critiquing and expressing skepticism, building inferences based on textual information, utilizing conditional and imperfect tense, analyzing text, research, problem–solving skills, and skills to build low–frequency academic vocabulary. Emphasis will be placed on increasing English proficiency in all four language domains – reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
English Electives
Creative Writing (910): ½ credit – Grade 10, 11, 12 Weight 1.0 – Offered Every Year
This class will serve as a writing workshop in which students will share, edit, and analyze each other’s writing talents in an effort to increase their skills and proficiencies in various types of writing. The course will focus on creative writing with an infusion of journalism to expose students to both fiction and non–fiction writing.
Drama (912): ½ credit – Grade 10, 11, 12 – Weight 1.0 – Offered Every Year
This course is an introduction to the realm of theatre. Students will obtain knowledge of the entire theatrical production process; although a myriad of acting styles will be explored and applied, students will learn that drama does not simply encompass performing onstage. Topics include: Elements of a production, voice and diction, non–verbal communication, improvisation, interpretation/working with scripts, film and theatre history
Speech & Mass Media (911): ½ credit – Grade 10, 11, 12 – Offered Every Year
This course is intended to provide instruction and experience in the preparation, delivery and potential influence of speech and media. Students would examine and analyze the preparatory stages of speeches and broadcasts, as well as learning about the evolutionary nature of media and how the process of delivery has changed over time. In addition to examining media, students would be expected to deliver speeches that reflect a specific delivery structure (informative, persuasive, special occasion speeches). These speeches would be completed in tandem with specific areas of study for mass media (news, propaganda, special events/broadcasts).
Mystery & Mayhem (902): ½ credit – Grade 10, 11, 12 – Weight 1.0 – Offered 2022/23
Students who enroll in Mystery & Mayhem can expect an exploration into the genre of mystery. Students will have a wide range of selections to choose from based on their interest level while delving into several sub–genres such as Magic Realism, Serials/Series, Whodunit, and Doctor Detective. The students will explore a favorite author or character while participating in literature circles, group work, hands on projects, and multi–media presentations.
Myths & Legends (901): ½ credit – Grade 10, 11, 12 – Weight 1.0 – Offered 2021/22
Through class instruction, reading, and both group and independent projects, students will be given an overview of mythology. Students will create original myths and complete a project examining specific cultures to determine the impact that culture has on mythology. At the conclusion of the course, students will understand the common threads of mythology and will realize what these stories can tell us about past civilizations, specific cultures, and the qualities that these worlds share with our present lives.
Reading (801): 1 credit – Grade 9 – Weight 1.0 – Offered Every Year
READ180 is a research based intensive reading program designed to meet the needs of students whose reading achievement is below grade level. The program directly addressed individual needs through adaptive and instructional software, high interest literature, and direct instruction in reading and writing skills. Prerequisite: placement test as incoming student.
Reading 2 (802): ½ credit – Grade 10 – Weight 1.0 – Offered Every Year
This course is designed to be a continuation of the 9th grade READ180 program. Students continue working with individualized computer software and reading materials at their personal instructional level. A particular emphasis is placed on preparation for the Keystone Literature exam. Prerequisite: by Reading teacher recommendation only.
Career Skills (706): ½ credit – Grade 11, 12 – Weight 1.0
Students will conduct personal research, career research, and post–secondary education research. They will learn basic employability skills, work ethics, business networking skills, decision–making and planning skills, and customer service skills. They will also prepare cover letters, employment applications, resumes, and thank you letters. They will learn about appropriate dress, as well as interview techniques.