EL SEGUNDO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

EL SEGUNDO HIGH SCHOOL

 

COURSE OF STUDY

 

Course Title:     Fundamentals of English

Department:      English

Grade Levels:   Identified incoming 9th graders, teacher recommended 10th graders, and students who did not pass the English/Language sections on the HSEE.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

Students who are enrolled in this course will work on the concepts being tested on the English/Language sections of the High School Exit Exam. Students will complete the state adopted literacy intervention program, Language! Students meeting the criteria for this course will be enrolled in addition to their regular English class.

 

Length:  One year

Prerequisite for Enrollment:

Incoming 9th graders:

●          Students who score below the 35th percentile on STAR reading and or language tests, earned a Language Arts course grade of D or below in 8th grade, a rubric score of 2 or below on the Diagnostic English exam, and have teacher recommendation.

 

High School Students:

●          Students who did not pass the English/Language sections on the High School Exit Exam,            score below the 35th percentile on STAR reading and or language tests, a rubric score of 2 or below on the Diagnostic English exam, and earned an English 9 course grade of C- or below

 

Students must meet 3 of the 4 criteria for enrollment.

 

Type of Course:  English

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE AND STANDARDS

 

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ARTS CONTENT STANDARDS

(Language! Curriculum Strands)

1.                  Phonemic/Phonological Concepts: Reading 1.0 Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development 

2.                  Phonemic Awareness: Reading 1.0

3.                  Phoneme-Grapheme Associations: Reading 1.0

4.                  Syllabication: Reading 1.0

5.                  Word Recognition: Decoding isolated phonetically regular words. Decoding isolated non-phonetic words: Reading 1.0

6.                  Vocabulary Development: Reading 1.0 (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively)

7.                  Text Reading

Decoding connected text

Fluency: Reading 1.0, 2.0 Reading Comprehension; Listening and Speaking 1.0 Listening and Speaking Strategies, 2.0 Speaking and applications [Genres and their characteristics] (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively, Develop Individually)

8.         Comprehension

Reading sentences, paragraphs, and passages for meaning through the levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy

9.         Expository and narrative genre

Literary analysis: Reading 2.0, 3.0 Literacy Response and Analysis

Spelling

Encoding isolated words (phonetic and non-phonetic)

Encoding words in connected text (phrases and sentences) Written and Oral

Language Conventions 1.0 Written and Oral English Language Conventions (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively, Develop Individually)

8.                  Orthography: Writing 1.0, Written and Oral Language Conventions 1.0 (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively)

9.                  Mechanics

Punctuation

Capitalization Written Oral English Language Conventions 1.0 (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively)

Composition

Applying principles of composition

Writing in different genres Written and Oral English Language Conventions 1.0, Writing Strategies 1.0, 2.0 Writing Applications [Genres and their characteristics]

Grammar and Usage Written and Oral English Language Conventions 1.0

Syntax and Sentence Structure Written and Oral English Language Conventions 1.0 (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively, Develop Individually)

Semantic Relationships Reading 1.0, 2.0, 30; Writing  1.0, 2.0;  Listening and  Speaking  1.0, 2.0 (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively, Develop Individually)

10.              Figurative Language

Idioms of English

Simile, metaphor, and other figures of speech  Reading 2.0, 3.0; Writing 1.0, 2.0; Listening and Speaking 1.0, 3.0 (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively, Develop Individually)

 

 

11.       Morphology

Vocabulary expansion through Anglo Saxon, Latin, and Greek combining forms: Reading 1.0, 2.0, 3.0; Listening and Speaking 1.0, 2.0 (Integrate CORE Knowledge, Think Critically, Communicate Effectively, Develop Individually)

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

 

1.         Students will be individually assessed using the Language! Encoding, Decoding, and Grammar screening tests, 2001 STAR Reading and Language scores, HSEE English/Language scores, and writing samples.

2.         The teacher will use a combination of direct instruction, small group work, and independent study to meet the needs of each individual student.

 

 

EVALUATION/GRADING OF STUDENT WORK

1.         Students will earn a letter grade:

Language! “Tasks for Mastery” tests comprise 50% of overall grade.

Daily assignments (Independent Reading/Journal Writing/Listening/Language! activities) comprise 25% of overall grade.

Quizzes comprise 15% of overall grade.

Homework comprises 10% of overall grade.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

 

1.                  Language! literacy intervention curriculum

2.                  Los Angeles Times

3.                  ESHS core literature for 9th and 10th grades