Parent Info
Welcome to English 9 with Ms. Citton.
Over the summer, I decided to re-invent English 9 and gear it, specifically, towards boys and their interests. As a die-hard Canucks and Leafs fan, I felt it important to bring hockey into the classroom. The idea to change the class structure to look and sound like the NHL came from my mother - a 25+ year teacher. In hopes of connecting with the students, and bring healthy competition into the classroom, we changed conventional classroom terminology into hockey related terminology. There is quite a lot of research on teaching boys and adding a competitive spirit into the mix is just one of the many strategies that will be used throughout the school year. Buckle up everyone, it's going to be a fun ride with lots of hairpin turns and pleasant surprises.
Areas of Focus:
The idea to bring writing to the front-burner comes from Kelly Gallagher's book: Write like This: Teaching Real-world Writing through Modeling and Mentor Texts. The ability to write and to write well, with purpose and conviction is an essential skill required for success. As students enter the senior grades, the written output and the ability to communicate ideas gets increasingly more difficult and more complex. Writing meaningful reflections, analyzing documents, exploring ideas, and evaluating sources are important skills that students need to develop early. Students who understand why they are writing and how it connects to their lives will succeed in high school, university, and life. I intend to give students ample opportunities to practice writing with a different purpose in mind. They will have a lot of free-range and be able to choose topics that interest them. It is my ambitious goal to instill in the students a new, more productive view of writing - to no longer look at it as a means to an end, but to look at writing as an extension of their own thoughts, ideas, and connections.
Other language skills such as reading, speaking, viewing, and researching will also be focuses in English 9; they will be supplementary and always require a written response.
We have the Technology so...We're going Paperless -"ish".
In the first month of school, students will create their own websites - like this one - to log their year in English 9. I invite you to check on your child's progress through their blog and website. As soon as they are created, you can find their website link under the "Players" Tab. Students who wish to bring their own computers and electronic devices may due so at their own risk. They are responsible for their technology. Electronic devices that become distractions or used inappropriately will be taken and later be claimed at the office.
A lot of the work the students do will be online; however, penmanship and writing on paper will also be practiced. An on-going daily writing journal/log will be an assignment given at the beginning of the year.
Critical Thinking
While this appears in the Learning Outcomes for almost every subject it is seldom elaborated on. What does critical thinking look like and how is it assessed? It certainly does not manifest itself as dark smoke emerging from a child's ears or the proverbial light bulb appearing above a child's head. How does a teacher know that critical thinking is going on at all? It can appear in the form of a child's question. Curiosity is peaked and the child wants to know more. Sometimes it looks like an argument among group members trying to solve a problem. Other times it is quiet and stares out the window wondering and wandering. It is not always obvious, but it is always encouraged. Looking beyond the obvious, finding solutions that may seem unconventional or risky, creating something new from old knowledge, changing the way are some ways critical thinking is demonstrated. Students will be encouraged to develop critical thinking through their writing, reading, and communication skills.
Questions, Comments, Concerns
You are more than welcome to contact me if you have any comments, questions, or concerns.
I am very excited to see how this year unfolds.
Over the summer, I decided to re-invent English 9 and gear it, specifically, towards boys and their interests. As a die-hard Canucks and Leafs fan, I felt it important to bring hockey into the classroom. The idea to change the class structure to look and sound like the NHL came from my mother - a 25+ year teacher. In hopes of connecting with the students, and bring healthy competition into the classroom, we changed conventional classroom terminology into hockey related terminology. There is quite a lot of research on teaching boys and adding a competitive spirit into the mix is just one of the many strategies that will be used throughout the school year. Buckle up everyone, it's going to be a fun ride with lots of hairpin turns and pleasant surprises.
Areas of Focus:
- Writing
- Technology Tools
- Critical Thinking
The idea to bring writing to the front-burner comes from Kelly Gallagher's book: Write like This: Teaching Real-world Writing through Modeling and Mentor Texts. The ability to write and to write well, with purpose and conviction is an essential skill required for success. As students enter the senior grades, the written output and the ability to communicate ideas gets increasingly more difficult and more complex. Writing meaningful reflections, analyzing documents, exploring ideas, and evaluating sources are important skills that students need to develop early. Students who understand why they are writing and how it connects to their lives will succeed in high school, university, and life. I intend to give students ample opportunities to practice writing with a different purpose in mind. They will have a lot of free-range and be able to choose topics that interest them. It is my ambitious goal to instill in the students a new, more productive view of writing - to no longer look at it as a means to an end, but to look at writing as an extension of their own thoughts, ideas, and connections.
Other language skills such as reading, speaking, viewing, and researching will also be focuses in English 9; they will be supplementary and always require a written response.
We have the Technology so...We're going Paperless -"ish".
In the first month of school, students will create their own websites - like this one - to log their year in English 9. I invite you to check on your child's progress through their blog and website. As soon as they are created, you can find their website link under the "Players" Tab. Students who wish to bring their own computers and electronic devices may due so at their own risk. They are responsible for their technology. Electronic devices that become distractions or used inappropriately will be taken and later be claimed at the office.
A lot of the work the students do will be online; however, penmanship and writing on paper will also be practiced. An on-going daily writing journal/log will be an assignment given at the beginning of the year.
Critical Thinking
While this appears in the Learning Outcomes for almost every subject it is seldom elaborated on. What does critical thinking look like and how is it assessed? It certainly does not manifest itself as dark smoke emerging from a child's ears or the proverbial light bulb appearing above a child's head. How does a teacher know that critical thinking is going on at all? It can appear in the form of a child's question. Curiosity is peaked and the child wants to know more. Sometimes it looks like an argument among group members trying to solve a problem. Other times it is quiet and stares out the window wondering and wandering. It is not always obvious, but it is always encouraged. Looking beyond the obvious, finding solutions that may seem unconventional or risky, creating something new from old knowledge, changing the way are some ways critical thinking is demonstrated. Students will be encouraged to develop critical thinking through their writing, reading, and communication skills.
Questions, Comments, Concerns
You are more than welcome to contact me if you have any comments, questions, or concerns.
I am very excited to see how this year unfolds.
Resources for the Course:
ASCD: Learn. Teach. Lead. 10 Essential Strategies for Teaching Boys Effectively. Electronic.
Gallagher, Kelly. Write like This: Teaching Real-world Writing through Modeling & Mentor Texts. Portland, Me.: Stenhouse, 2011. Print.
ASCD: Learn. Teach. Lead. 10 Essential Strategies for Teaching Boys Effectively. Electronic.
Gallagher, Kelly. Write like This: Teaching Real-world Writing through Modeling & Mentor Texts. Portland, Me.: Stenhouse, 2011. Print.