freshman orientation class of 2019. english language arts & reading freshman orientation...

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION

Class of 2019

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS & READING FRESHMAN ORIENTATION

2015-2016

GRADE 9 CURRICULUM OFFERINGS

COURSE TITLE GRADE LEVELENGLISH I 9

ENGLISH I HONORS 9

ENGLISH II 9-10

ENGLISH II HONORS 9-10

9TH GRADE PROGRESS MONITORING

ELA PCS COMMON ASSESSMENT (Write Score) All students in grades 9-10 via ELA courses

CYCLE 1- SEPT. 22- OCT. 24 CYCLE 2- DEC. 14- JAN. 25

SCHOLASTIC READING INVENTORY (SRI) All students scoring at Levels 1 or 2 via reading intervention or content reading

course CYCLE 1- AUG. 31- SEPT 11 CYCLE 2- JAN. 11- JAN 22 CYCLE 3- MAY 16- MAY 27

9TH GRADE STATE ASSESSMENT

FSA Assessment All students 9-10

• FSA WRITING GRADE 6-10

• February 29th - March 11th

• FSA ELA GRADES 6-10

• April 11th - May 6th

THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT READING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT!

Think about this:  a student who reads 21 minutes per day outside of school reads almost 2 million words per year, whereas a student who reads less than a minute per day outside of school reads only 8,000 to 21,000 words per year.  

Here are some ways to support wide reading beyond the school day:

Encouraging your student to read a variety of different materials

Discussing stories or articles you have both read

Asking your student questions about what was read

Encouraging your student to write in response to what was read

Ensure your student reads widely—encourage them to read and research about a topic of interest or inquiry.

EVERY QUESTION COUNTS!

Part of literacy progress is learning how to think as you read. Asking questions supports learning how to think.

Examples of some questions you might ask your student before, during, or after they read might be:

What was the most significant concept from the text?

What do you think will happen next?

Did you learn about anything that impacts your life?

What was your favorite part of the story?

How did the characters change over time?

Does this text remind you of something that you’ve read before? How?

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

STATE RESOURCES http://fldoe.org: parents can find information on current Florida school

policy, assessment, state publications and reports. http://fsassessments.org: a wealth of information covering a range of topics

including assessment schedules, information for families, student accommodations, training tests, test design summaries and test item specifications by grade level with accompanying sample test items (updated March 2015).

flstandards.org: information on the Florida standards

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

DISTRICT RESOURCES focus.pcsb.org: Library Resources—including but not limited to:

Gale, Destiny, Learn 360, MackinVIA, Visual Thesaurus, Cranium Core, Brain POP, Lexile, Wordle, Florida Memory Project

NATIONAL RESOURCES http://www.pta.org/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2909:

National PTA four page brochure with details for parents on student success with the standards

MATHFRESHMAN ORIENTATION

2015-2016

WHY DOESN’T THE MATH MY CHILD IS DOING LOOK LIKE THE MATH I DID IN HIGH SCHOOL?

Think about how much the world has changed since you were in high school…

For your child to succeed in today’s world, arithmetic skills alone are no longer enough.

The mathematics needs to prepare your students for the new basic skills, such as solving real world problems, explaining their thinking to others, identifying trends in data, and of course, using modern technology.

WHAT? MY CHILD CAN WRITE IN THEIR TEXTBOOK?

Yes! They are not lying to you. The textbook your child receives is consumable. Your child is free to write, sketch, cut, paste, highlight, and draw throughout the course.

WHY IS MY CHILD SPENDING CLASS TIME ON THE COMPUTER?

This is called a blended curriculum. Curriculum in context is accessible to a wide range of student abilities, which provides “success for all.”

Classroom

(60%)

Computer Lab

(40%)

CLASSROOM – 60%

The classroom will be student-centered

Your child will spend time having conversations about mathematics. “How” and “why” will be questions that are asked regularly. They will no longer simply just memorize procedures.

Your child will spend time writing about mathematics, not just simply writing a numerical solution.

There may be times in class that your student will also have presentations.

COMPUTER LAB – 40%

The Cognitive Tutor provides differentiated instruction to your child.

There are step-by-step example problems to guide your students before independent work.

There are also hints available if they are working and get stuck.

With built in progress monitoring your child will always know where they are in their current understanding of the learning by looking at the Skillometer. New problems are always based on individual student needs.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CARNEGIE LEARNING?

Go to www.carnegielearning.com

Click on the Resources & Support tab.

Click on the Parent Resources tab.

Visit the Home Connections page,

which can be found by clicking the

purple box at the bottom of the

Parent Resources page.

STATE ASSESSMENT REQUIRMENTS

• End of Course Exams(EOCs)Algebra 1 – must pass and 30% of grade

PERT test can also be takenGeometry – must take but not pass, 30% of

gradeAlgebra 2(if enrolled) – must take but not

pass, 30% of gradeBiology - must take but not pass, 30% of

gradeUS History – must take but not pass, 30% of

grade

• FSA Grade 10(or ACT/SAT concordant score)

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS• 4 Credits English Language Arts (ELA)• 4 Credits Mathematics

One of which must be Algebra 1One of which must be Geometry

• 3 Credits ScienceOne of which must be BiologyTwo must be equally rigorous

• 3 Credits Social Studies.5 credit American Government1 credit World History1. credit US History.5 credit Economics

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED

• 1 Credit Performing Fine Arts• 1 Credit of HOPE• 1 Online course• 8 Elective courses

• 24 credits• GPA = 2.0• Pass state assessment tests

DIPLOMA DESIGNAITONS• MERIT DIPLOMA

Meet the standard Diploma requirementsAttain one or more industry certifications

• Scholar DIPLOMAMeet the standard Diploma requirementsPass all state assessments and EOCs2 credits of a Foreign LanguageAt least one credit in an AP or Dual Enrollment class1 credit Alg. 21 credit in Chemistry or Physics1 credit in equally rigorous to Chemistry or Physics1 credit in Statistics or an equally rigorous

course

Class Options• Advanced Placement(AP) classes

Counts toward college credit if you pass AP exam• Dual Enrollment classes

Start as a JuniorCounts toward college creditStarts your college GPA

• Early College ProgramApply as a 10th graderStarts your Junior yearCan earn diploma and AA at the same time

• Early AdmissionsApply as a Junior – starts your Senior year

SCHOOL CONTACTS• ADMINISTRATORS

A-L: Mrs. Barker and all IB students727-669-1131 x2015 barkerki@pcsb.org

M-Z: Ms. Dupee and all Medical students727-669-1131 x2014 dupeep@pcsb.org

• GUIDANCE COUNSELORSA – C: Mrs. Miller

727-669-1131 x2062 millerjean@pcsb.org D – L: Miss Keating keatingam@pcsb.org

727-669-1131 x2063 M – Z: Mr. Papp pappt@pcsb.org

727-669-1131 x2061

SCHOOL CONTACTS CONTINUED

• All IB students: Mrs. Shephard-Thompson727-669-1131 x 2064 shepherda@pcsb.org

• All Medical students: Miss. Hewitt727-669-1131 x2060 hewittpa@pcsb.org

• SECRETARIES9th Grade University: Mrs. Owens

727-669-1131 x2036 owensmi@pcsb.orgMedical: Mrs. Spicciati

727-669-1131 x2087 spicciatis@pcsb.orgIB: Mrs. Calabrese

727-669-1131 x2086 calabreses@pcsb.org

RESOURCES• Homework Hotline

727-547-7223727-442-3226

• Khan Academy(online video tutorials)www.khanacademy.org

• BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLORSHIPSwww.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/

volunteer hours – see your guidance counselor• FINANCIAL AID

www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org• PALM HARBOR UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

WEBSITE• WWW.PCSB.ORG/PHUHS