Course Descriptions

1.0 CREDIT
Grades 10

This course is designed to teach the English Language Arts standards of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language in an appropriately enriching and challenging environment. Students are encouraged to read texts of different types such as short stories, news articles, informative essays, narrative nonfiction, and dramas. Teachers use the myPerspectives series by Savvas along with selected trade books that correspond to each unit of study. Each unit focuses on essential questions: Do people need to belong? What is the relationship between power and freedom? Within the units students are taught to apply skills to various texts and use textual evidence in their numerous performance tasks which culminates in a performance-based assessment at the end of each unit. Students should expect to offer substantive contributions to daily class discussions. Students will reflect on writing and consider how the themes connect and apply to real life situations. 
This course is designed with increased rigor in text selection and writing expectations. As this is an advanced course, students will be responsible for more reading on their own. In addition, students will be held to a higher standard in terms of writing and speaking assignments. Students will be well-prepared for entering FVL's dual-credit English courses in grade 12. 

Prerequisite: Successful completion of ALA1 per instructor approval

Former LA1 students can apply, given the following characteristics: 

1. Room in the class requested
2. 3.0+ cumulative GPA 
3. B+ or better in the prior academic year English courses
4. Approval by English faculty with relevant knowledge
5. Parent approval given to the counselor

Required: Yes, unless in LAF2 or LA2

Note: Application required with prior year teacher approval.