Chatsworth Charter High School 

ELD English 9AB

Fall 2024/Spring 2025

Course Description Sheet and Syllabus

Instructors: 

Hong Na Email address: [email protected]

Course Description 

ELD English 9AB is a two semester course designed to satisfy the content standards and high school credit requirements set forth by the California State Department of Education and Los Angeles Unified School District. The focus of this class is to prepare students for college and complete their Standards-Based education in Language Arts. 

The work we do in this class is carefully aligned with Common Core State Standards. These standards focus on four core areas: reading (fiction and nonfiction), writing, speaking and listening, and language (grammar and writing conventions). 

Required Texts, Materials, and Applications

• myPerspectives ELA Volume 1 and  myPerspectives ELA Volume 2

• Chromebook (fully charged everyday)

• Schoology

• NewsELA 

• The Pearl by John Steinbeck (Fall Semester)
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Spring Semester)

Assignments

Instructional activities will vary and will be tailored to the needs of each student. For most instructional days, students will find a link to “ChalkBoard”, or Schoology, to help them navigate the lessons. We will begin each session with a quick check-in. We will read the standard materials from the freshman English curriculum and students will do various writing activities that are designed to develop their writing and thinking skills. The activities in the consumable workbooks that each student has  been assigned will be the bulk of the work in this class. Although not every assignment will be done for credit, all assignments must be completed.  

Classroom instruction will be a combination of teacher guided lessons, class discussions, reading, independent work, and group work. The goal is for all students enrolled in my class to reach proficiency or  mastery in the subject matter. To complement our essential questions, students will be watching a number of videos both on YouTube and TedTalks.

Most assignments will be evaluated, corrected, and returned in a timely manner. Students are expected to apply all recommendations and corrections to future assignments. Careless errors that are repeated are unacceptable. I always explain how to complete each assignment and I also explain the purpose of each assignment prior to assigning classwork or homework. I DO NOT ACCEPT INCOMPLETE WORK. All incomplete work must be completed to earn a grade. Most assignments will be  evaluated and graded according to the standards of the 4-point rubric. 

All coursework must be completed  in a thoughtful and precise way, while demonstrating an understanding and mastery of the skills and  concepts that we are working on in class. All work must be submitted on-time and must be completed with  the utmost effort and consideration in order to receive the highest grade. In some cases, assignments that do not meet the minimum standards can be reattempted for a higher grade (reattempting assignments does not automatically guarantee a higher grade).

Late Work 

Make-up and late work must be submitted before the progress report check of the assignment (5 week, 10 week, 15 week).  Every 5 weeks, I will lock all assignments. Again, if there is something beyond your control, please contact me and I will work with you the best I can. Students are responsible for all work missed when absent from school.

Quizzes and Tests

Quizzes and Tests will be given periodically to monitor progress. Only materials covered in this class will  be on quizzes and tests. 

Class Participation 

Class participation is essential to our learning. Active participation increases skills in critical thinking, active listening, and communication. Students will be instructed to come prepared to class in order to participate in classroom discussion. All interactions in class will be civil, respectful, and supportive of an inclusive learning environment for all students. 

Course Grading  

All assignments receive a point value for a grade. Most assignments will be evaluated and graded according  to the standards of the 4-point rubric. Rubrics are posted in the Assignment Task Box. The following is the percentage breakdown for grades in this class:

A = 88% -100%; 

B = 79%-87%;

C = 68%-78%;

D = 55%-67%; 

Fail = 0-54%

Attendance   

Students are expected to come on time to class everyday. Being absent or tardy to class comes at a disadvantage to student learning and progress. If students miss class, they are encouraged to check on “Chalkboard” to see what they missed. Students are encouraged to check with a classmate to obtain any notes. Students are strongly encouraged to email me in advance if they know that they will miss class for an excused reason. 5 tardies will result in 1 hour of detention. 

Cell Phone Policy:

I also expect students to have the responsibility and discipline to not be distracted by their cell phones. Students should turn cell phones off or silence them and put them in their backpacks (not in pockets, on the desk, etc.). Cell phone use will not be allowed at all. Once a phone is visible, the teacher will place the phone in the classroom phone pockets. 

Plagiarism   

Plagiarism is absolutely NOT TOLERATED. Plagiarism with mal intent is grounds for disciplinary action.  Plagiarism of any kind will result in an automatic zero, referral, a conference with your parent/guardian, and or an administrative consequence.

AI Policy  

AI, or artificial intelligence, is an application tool used in the workforce, education, and personal lives. Currently, this technology is new, changing, and growing ever more relevant. Teachers will instruct AI in the classroom at the discretion of the LAUSD and the California Board of Education policies. Currently, high schools and universities have policies that AI is strictly used as a tool. Students MAY NOT use AI to create work and claim it as their own.