Crueger

bcrueger@rentonschools.us

Third(3rd) Period Conference & Planning

English Language Arts 10A

Course Description:

Students will begin the trimester by setting up routines and structures with a focus on partner talk, routines and structures for notebooks, and building reading and writing stamina early on. In Trimester A students explore the essential question, Who am I in this complicated world? by investigating origin stories and the role of nature versus nurture in becoming who we are. Throughout 10A, students will research and write routinely to build the first chapter of a real or imagined origin story narrative that synthesizes multiple sources and explores the theory of nature versus nurture. Finally, students will participate in a Structured Academic Controversy that answers the question, Was our protagonist most influenced by nature or nurture in becoming who they are?

In Unit 1 students will study author's craft through close reading of a text on the essential question: Who am I in this complicated world? Students will analyze conflict, which builds to an introduction of character motivation, using Inquiry by Design strategies throughout each week. Reading Informational standards are incorporated through research to support learning about personal or imagined origins. Routine writing practice related to author’s craft is also woven throughout Unit 1 with suggested formative and benchmark assessments that encourage students to try on and analyze what they are reading, including researching and writing about their own first chapter origin story.

The study of author’s craft in Unit 1 prepares students to participate in a book club in Unit 2 with a mix of fiction and nonfiction text options for students to study characters and stories that explore origin, identity, and the idea of nature versus nurture. Students will apply their knowledge of conflict and continue to build their practice with character motivation from Unit 1 to analyze and understand their book club characters and themselves in Unit 2. Students will build speaking and listening skills in book club discussions that move toward student independence, with built-in reflection regarding book choices, how the book club is functioning and how to improve, and how they are contributing to their book club. Suggested formative assessments are included, as well as benchmark assessments where students analyze their book club book in relation to origin and nature versus nurture. As an extension, students can add to the first chapter of their origin story to include researching and writing about the impact of nature versus nurture in their own lives.

Course Objectives:

Grading PolicyTrimester A will culminate with revising and editing students' origin story narratives before publishing and celebrating writing. Finally, students will participate in a Structured Academic Controversy that answers the question, Was our protagonist most influenced by nature or nurture in becoming who they are?

Grading Scale

School-Provided Resources (Textbook, Calculator, etc): 

School Information

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Weekly Schedule