9th Grade English Language Arts Curriculum
When a student enters high school, they are beginning advanced courses for college preparation. In their freshmen year, students should have opportunities to develop listening and speaking skills included in their 9th grade English language arts curriculum. As they continue the process of learning grammar, vocabulary, composition, reading comprehension through the exploration of diverse texts, they should see their oral language skills strengthened.
The information below will guide you through the 9th grade English language arts activities your students should be completing and how Time4Learning can help you achieve academic excellence.
Here is what you’ll find on this page:
- What English Language Arts Concepts Should a 9th Grader Learn?
- Reading Goals & Objectives for 9th Grade
- Writing Goals & Objectives for 9th Grade
- Grammar Goals & Objectives for 9th Grade
- Time4Learning’s 9th Grade Language Arts Scope & Sequence
- Why Choose Time4Learning Ninth Grade English Language Arts Homeschool Curriculum?
What English Language Arts Concepts Should a 9th Grader Learn?
A typical course of study for 9th grade English language arts will include a variety of literary works from different cultures around the world. 9th graders usually cover book reports, which build both reading comprehension and composition skills, as well as expand on writing skills they built in previous years.
Some of the 9th grade language arts activities your student should perform include:
- Learn to identify the features and purpose of myths, as well as contrasting myths from different cultures.
- Learn how to interpret similes, analyze figurative language and use prior knowledge to make predictions.
- Researching and writing about mythical characters.
- Explore the different thematic links in the texts they read such as love, beauty, family, freedom, friendship and overall human nature.
- Read and understand increasingly challenging texts that build knowledge in history, science and other subjects.
- Compose texts that present multiple points of view.
- Conduct research and select information from multiple sources to support their arguments.
- Continue learning best practices for grammar and also expanding their vocabulary, both written and orally.
- Constantly read and analyze classical books, short stories, poetry and more.
Learn more about Time4Learning’s ninth grade English language arts curriculum below.
9th Grade Reading Goals & Objectives
In terms of reading goals for 9th graders, your high school curriculum for language arts should aim at increasing the student’s ability to understand unknown words, as well as turning a more critical eye toward literature.
Reading goals and objectives for 9th graders should include:
- Decipher elements of the plot arch, setting, narrative, character development, Point-of-View, and more.
- Accurately identify the author’s point of view in a story.
- Adequately identify and explain the use of allegory and satire in novels.
- Achieve clear understanding of figurative language, form and perspective.
- Develop skills to evaluate materials for accuracy and discussion techniques.
- Read between the lines and notice subtext, worldview, and implications.
- Learn to track a plotline from the inciting moment to the climax and denouement.
- Explore the meaning of the author’s voice, choice of narrative and POV, and use of character development.
9th Grade Writing Goals & Objectives
The ideal English language arts curriculum for ninth grade will encourage students to strengthen their writing skills by producing creative and coherent writing.
Writing goals for a ninth grader should include:
- Use different traits for writing, including organization, content, voice and word choice.
- Use figurative language to compose their own poetry.
- Develop and support ideas with specific examples, and citing information from reliable sources.
- Formulate appropriate questions and paraphrase problems.
- Identify areas of improvement in their own writing.
- Understand proper composition skills.
- Avoid plagiarism and accurately give credit to whom credit is due.
9th Grade Grammar Goals & Objectives
Even for a natural writer, grammar can be a struggle. Grammar extends beyond understanding how sentences flow together and instead, focuses on the rules of punctuation and types of phrases. 9th graders are expected to master high level grammar skills as proper writing skills are necessary for most career fields.
Consider these objectives for your 9th grade ELA curriculum:
- Understand and apply the proper grammar rules in their writing (pronoun-antecedent, apostrophes, etc.)
- Recognize run-on sentences, and sentence fragments and avoid them.
- Successfully diagram sentences.
- Subordinate clauses
- Participle phrases
- Relative clauses
Time4Learning’s 9th Grade Language Arts Scope & Sequence
- Introduction to Mythology
- Compare and Contrast: Myths and Cultures
- Compare and Contrast: Myths and Cultures (continued)
- Heroic Characteristics in “Perseus”
- Suspense in “The Cruel Tribute”
- Improving Vocabulary with Word Parts and Context Clues
- Writing a Narrative about Overcoming a Challenge
- The Odyssey and Epic Poetry: An Introduction, Part 1
- The Odyssey: Central Ideas and Character Motivation, Part 2
- The Odyssey: Writing a Character Analysis, Part 3
- The Odyssey: Conflict and Theme, Part 4
- The Odyssey: Symbolism and Making Predictions, Part 5
- The Odyssey: Theme Development, Part 6
- Using Reference Resources
- Researching and Writing about a Mythical Character
- Introduction to Individuality and Conformity: “Initiation”
- Imagery and Symbolism in “The Scarlet Ibis”
- Characters, Conflict, and Idioms in “Daughter of Invention” by Julia Alvarez
- Writing about Mood in Art
- Word Choice and Extended Metaphor in a Poem by Maya Angelou
- Viewpoint in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
- Parts of Speech: Words and Basic Phrases
- Creating a Blog
- Introducing a Text in Wheels of Change, Part 1
- Text Structures in Wheels of Change, Part 2
- Word Choice and Evidence in Wheels of Change, Part 3
- Cause and Effect in Wheels of Change, Part 4
- Developing Central Ideas in Wheels of Change, Part 5
- Organization and Historical Context in Wheels of Change, Part 6
- Making Inferences about a Time Period in “A Century Ride”
- Creating a PSA
- Comparing Poetry: Poetic Devices
- Summarizing Central Ideas and Purpose: The Hot Zone
- Comparing Argumentative Texts: Silent Spring and “Save the Redwoods”
- Simple Sentences: Sentence Parts, Verb Tense, and Verb Voice
- Writing an Argumentative Essay about Fire Prevention
- Introduction to Making a Difference: It’s Our World, Too!
- Descriptive Language and Character: Iqbal
- Comparing Accounts of Iqbal’s Story
- Writing an E-mail about an Important Issue
- Word Choice and Author’s Purpose in Warriors Don’t Cry
- Speaking and Listening: Effective Group Discussions
- Writing an Argumentative Editorial about Initiating Change
- Cumulative Exam
- Characterization, Theme, and Irony in “The Gift of the Magi”
- Poetic Form in “I Am Offering This Poem”
- Rhyme Scheme and Rhythm in a Sonnet by William Shakespeare
- Narrative Elements in “Pyramus and Thisbe”, from Ovid’s Metamorphoses
- Compound and Complex Sentences
- Writing an Informative Essay about Making Sacrifices
- An Introduction to Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet, Part 1
- Setting the Scene of Romeo and Juliet, Part 2
- Characters and Conflict in Romeo and Juliet, Part 3
- Soliloquy and Figures of Speech in Romeo and Juliet, Part 4
- Literary Devices in Romeo and Juliet, Part 5
- Conflict Development in Romeo and Juliet, Part 6
- Suspense in Romeo and Juliet, Part 7
- Themes and Resolution in Romeo and Juliet, Part 8
- Creating a Storyboard for a Shakespeare Scene
- Introduction to Mystery and Suspense: “The Raven”
- Character and Point of View in “The Most Dangerous Game”, Part 1
- Making Predictions and Visualizing with “The Most Dangerous Game”, Part 2
- Writing an Argument Based on “The Most Dangerous Game”, Part 3
- Mood and Narrative Techniques in “Lather and Nothing Else”
- The Art of Creating Suspense: Central Ideas of Two Authors
- Punctuating Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Elements
- Writing a Literary Analysis through the Lens of a Quotation
- Summarizing Central Ideas in The Dark Game, Part 1
- Supporting Conclusions with Evidence in The Dark Game, Part 2
- Author’s Purpose and Viewpoint in The Dark Game, Part 3
- Using Strategies and Word Patterns: The Code Book
- Evaluating an Argument and Questioning: The Code Book
- Introduction to Pronouns
- Writing a Compare-and-Contrast Essay about Presentation of Ideas
- Historical Context and Conflict in Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Part 1
- Narration and Point of View in Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Part 2
- The Art of Rhetoric in Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
- Argument Technique in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
- Structure and Narrative: Rosa Parks’ Memoir, My Story
- Writing Coherent Sentences
- Writing a Research-Based Argumentative Essay about Technology
- Tracing the Central Idea in “A Quilt of a Country”
- Analyzing the Series of Events in Outcasts United
- Rhetoric and Structure in Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Speech
- Rhetoric in Reagan’s Address at Moscow State University
- Writing a Works Cited Page
- Speaking and Listening: Planning a Multimedia Presentation
- Creating a Multimedia Presentation
- Cumulative Exam
Why Choose Time4Learning Ninth Grade English Language Arts Homeschool Curriculum?
Time4Learning’s 9th grade English language arts curriculum tackles each of the concepts mentioned above and more through engaging, interactive lessons with multimedia features and easy-to-follow instructions. Time4Learning follows a step-by-step method to bridge any possibilities of learning gaps and track the student’s progress. Consequently, students can move forward through the program as quickly or slowly as they need.
Time4Learning is dedicated to helping your students reach their academic goals while also enjoying their experience.
