Welcome to English Skills!

overview

English Skills is a requirement for any CCHS student with more than one credit of English to finish. It is the first class all students take - a five-week long "mega module" introducing the basic reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills used throughout all subjects at CCHS.

driving questions

• How do we write clearly and directly?
• Why is it important to become a writing ninja, especially in an age of texting and Snapchat?
• What is the value of learning the writing process, rather than just putting something down on paper?
• How do we break down texts to understand them better?

goals

• The student will master clear and direct writing.
• The student will develop and employ their ability to revise and edit personal writing.
• The student will be able to analyze and discuss their writing using grammatical language.
• The student will utilize reading strategies to read for comprehension and analysis.

c-tachs addressed through this mega module

• Reading
  • Cite strong textual evidence to support analysis of explicit and implicit meaning of text
  • Read and comprehend complex literature and informational text independently, accurately, and for deep understanding
• Writing
  • Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
  • Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience
  • Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach
• Language
  • Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English grammar when speaking and writing
  • Demonstrate command of standard capitalization and punctuation
  • Spell correctly
• Speaking and listening
  • Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions
  • Analyze the important points of an oral presentation
  • Present information, findings and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective

what to expect from class

• Most days will include the following:
  • Group activities/workshops/mini-lessons
  • Independent work time
  • Check-ins/conferences with Christine for feedback
• I’ll be here to guide you on your path to writing ninjahood (just call me Sensei Christine). However, success lies in your hands. You are expected to work independently in class every day. 

points and credit

• Earning 100 points will give you credit for the course, based on completion of the weekly syllabi
• Credit will only be given for “B” work or better (“capable” on the Writing Scoring Guide).  Sub-standard work will be revised.
• All work must be legible to receive credit. Final drafts must be typed.
• Any discrepancy about grading must be argued through writing.
• Student behavior expectations will follow the 6 P’s and attending skills.
• Student consequences will follow the 3 redirects.
• All students must come to class every day.  If you are in the building but have not checked in with Christine, you will not receive attendance.

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week 4 schedule
​(6 - 10 Feb)

Monday

• Warm-up: storytelling with Tell Tale Cards
• Overview of week and expectations
  • Use the website and syllabus as resources
  • Use your Reading and Writing Handbook as a resource
  • This is your last week of class - after that, it's lock-down if you aren't finished
• Creative writing prompt #1: personal narrative
  • Choose one prompt to respond to and write for 8 minutes straight (running out of ideas? explain scenarios in your life that apply, or scenarios you've seen in other people's lives/movies/books)
    • What is your personal credo?
    • Do you have a life calling? 
    • What do older generations misunderstand about yours?
    • What would you do if you won the lottery?
    • Don't like these? Here are 500 more to choose from...

Ok, here's your challenge: can you beat my typing score?

• Typing test (www.typingtest.com)
  • Take the 1-minute test three times
  • Record all three results and take the average for your base typing speed
• Create a website on www.weebly.com
  • Design home page (intro to site) and blog page
• Turn personal narrative into a blog post
  • Type up narrative and wrap up/polish ideas as needed
  • Break into short paragraphs: 1-2 sentences per paragraph
    • Don't indent like you do with an essay; instead, add an extra space between paragraphs
  • Add two graphics (pictures and/or YouTube video) with captions
  • Add two links that add depth or outside info to narrative
• Publish site and e-mail Christine your URL
• Grammar Flip (2 topics minimum)

Tuesday

• Grammar Flip (2 topics minimum)
• Creative writing prompt #2: Tell Tale story cards
  • Pick three Tell Tale cards randomly and write a story incorporating all three - write for 10 minutes total
• Turn tell-tale story into a blog post
  • Type up story and wrap up/polish ideas as needed
  • Break into short paragraphs: 2-3 sentences per paragraph
    • Don't indent like you do with an essay; instead, add an extra space between paragraphs
  • Add two graphics (pictures or video) with captions
  • Add two links that add depth or outside info to story

Wednesday

• Grammar Flip (2 topics minimum)
• Creative writing prompt #3: Freewrite
  • Write about whatever you want for 10 minutes. It can be on a specific topic or stream of consciousness (whatever comes to mind) - as long as it's school appropriate. Stuck for ideas? Write about your day, observe things in the room, write about what you'd rather be doing in this moment... just keep writing!
• Turn freewrite into a blog post
  • Type up freewrite and wrap up/polish ideas as needed
  • Break into short paragraphs: 1-2 sentences per paragraph
    • Don't indent like you do with an essay; instead, add an extra space between paragraphs
  • Add two graphics (pictures or video) with captions
  • Add two links that add depth or outside info to freewrite topics
• Read a classmate's blog post and leave a comment (3-4 sentences, reflection on their post and any connections you have to the topic)

Thursday

• Grammar Flip (2 topics minimum)
• Finish up blog posts as needed
• Comment on another classmate's blog post (same expectations as first comment)
• Polish website as needed
  • Home page: title, header photo, welcome message, button to blog
  • Blog: title, header photo
• Wrap up outstanding English Skills work

​Friday

• Finish work for the English Skills credit!
  • Week 1: 3.8s
  • Week 2: 5 paragraph essay
  • Week 3: presentations
  • Week 4: website
  • Grammar Flip: 36 topics total
• Take post test (you must earn 80% or higher to pass)
• Take English Skills survey (feedback for Christine)
• Fill out credit summary!

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handy docs

Week 1 Syllabus
File Size:	50 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Week 2 Syllabus
File Size:	49 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Week 3 Syllabus
File Size:	48 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Week 4 Syllabus
File Size:	48 kb
File Type:	pdf

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5 Para Essay Rubric
File Size:	128 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Blog Post Rubric
File Size:	127 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Reading and Writing Handbook

R&W Handbook 16-17
File Size:	1820 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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If, somehow, you lost your handbook, please DO NOT print one here... let me know, and I'll get you another one. The handbook is here just for added reference.