This is a flexible instructor-led credit recovery English 9 course. Instructors regularly interact with students and provide assistance and feedback on work. This course covers English 9 concepts for credit recovery. Students may work at their own pace to complete the course; students may take up to 20 weeks to complete the course.
Our study in this course will center around tensions: personal identity in contrast with society's expectations; choices that go against societal norms; being yourself in tension with fitting into a group. We have all likely experienced feeling at least one of these tensions - most people have. In this course, we will explore how studying tensions can help us understand universal themes and we'll do it by studying literature and writing.
The course begins with an exploration of self and society as students read and analyze short stories and the elements of fiction. At the same time, students write a personal narrative developed through the writing process, from brainstorming to final revision.
Students then move on to complete independent research that culminates in an informational essay about an activist. The second half of the course focuses on a choice novel that examines the theme of belonging. Students will choose one of three novels to read independently: Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson; The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton; or The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weismann. Students will finish up the course by writing a formal literary essay about the novel.
Throughout the course, students will build their vocabulary through a vocabulary journal, learn about and demonstrate their understanding of grammar concepts, and show their understanding of literature through a variety of written and creative assignments.
Please note that this course is an abbreviated course. Therefore, the course does not cover a full year’s curriculum with the same depth that is covered in a year-long course. Credit recovery courses require approximately 40 total hours of work for a 0.5 credit course and 80 total hours for a 1-credit Credit Recovery course. In addition, if the student is taking this course for credit recovery or initial credit, it is strongly advised that you check with the student's school to confirm that the topics covered (see course syllabus) match those required by the school. You may also want to confirm with the school the process for receiving credits, which may involve an assessment administered separately by the school.
Required Texts: This course requires students to obtain copies of certain texts. Details provided in the Additional Requirements field of this course description.
Students will need to obtain a copy of one the following texts which are available at many school or local libraries or for purchase online for a small fee:
One of the following needed in Unit 4:
- Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
- The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weismann
Students who plan to transfer credit from VHS Learning to their full-time high school should check with their school to confirm they will accept the credits before registering for a VHS Learning Credit Recovery course.