1. Info for rising 9th English students
Jessica Scaggs
Chattahoochee English department
9th English plc leader

2. Topics to cover English courses your child can take in 9th grade
Overview of 9th English curriculum and expectations
On-Level vs. Honors and points of contact
Questions!
** This powerpoint will also be posted on my school website, jscaggs.weebly.com, for continued reference.

3. Possible English courses in 9th grade
You should have a recommendation from your child’s current English teacher about where he/she is advised to go, based on current performance. Your child’s current English teacher (rather than the teachers at our school) will have the best feedback for future paths, since that teacher has the most insight about his/her strengths and weaknesses.
If your child took 8th grade ELA in 8th grade  9th on-level or 9th Honors (depending on performance)
If your child took 9th on-level ELA in 8th grade  10th on-level, 10th Honors (very rare), or 9th ELA again
If your child took 9th Honors ELA in 8th grade  10th on-level, 10th Honors, or 9th Honors again

4. Difference between on-level and honors English
General distinctions between honors and on-level:
Honors courses have a summer reading assignment
Honors courses are faster paced
Expectations are much higher, especially in writing skills and critical thinking skills
There is a higher expectation for personal responsibility in an honors course
Characteristics of successful honors students:
Self-motivated
An advocate for their education
Accepts instruction and constructive criticism
Participates in class on a regular basis and embraces opposing viewpoints

5. Question examples

6. 9th on-level english
Moving away from whole-class novels and towards book clubs/independent book choices
In-class instruction often focuses on a particular skill or technique displayed in a “mentor text”
Students learn to apply that skill in the class example through teacher modeling first
Students then identify, analyze, or use that concept in relation to the chosen books they are reading.
Students also have periods of time in class allocated to reading their books or doing classwork (rarely HW assignments besides reading).
Emphasis on vocabulary development, writing structure/stamina, self-monitoring progress, and analysis rather than summary.

7. Questions?? Points of contact:
9th on-level – Jessica Scaggs,
9th honors – david white,
10th on-level – Margaret garth,
10th honors – Carla Boudreaux,