• ELA 1-2

    Please check in with your child throughout the year as there are several major projects. If you ever have any questions, feel free to email me at Viviana.Martinez@dvusd.org. 

    Assessments: 

    • NWEA Map Growth (Tested throughout the year)
    • ACT Aspire (Test in April)

    Syllabus: View Syllabus by Clicking

    Course Outline: 

    Fall Semester

    Unit Title 

    Essential Standards

    Department and District Assessments

    Expected Timeframe

    Fiction: The Stories We Tell


    Anchor Texts:

    Humans of New York

    Freedom Writers’ Diary

    Various Short Stories

    SAVVAS/MyPerspective Textbook

    Essential - 

    RL1: Cite thorough textual evidence

    RL2: Find and analyze themes 

    W3: Write Narratives


    Supporting - 

    RL3: Characterization

    RL6: POV, Cultural Perspective

    L5: Figurative Language, Word Choice, and Nuances

    SL3: Evaluation of POV, Evidence

    SL4: Presenting Information

    W8: Research

    NWEA MAP Growth


    Summative: Life in 3D Project and Presentation

    Weeks 1-11

    Picture This: Let’s Explore


    Anchor Texts:

    Various Informative Texts

    TedTalks

    SAVVAS/MyPerspective Textbook

    Essential - 

    RI 1: Cite Thorough Textual Evidence

    RI 2: Identify Central Idea

    W 2: Write Informative Texts


    Supporting - 

    RI3: Analyze Effects of Author’s Choices

    RI5: Analyze Text Structures 

    SL3: Evaluation of POV, Evidence

    SL4: Presenting Information

    W8: Research

    NWEA MAP Growth


    Final Summative: How To Booklet Project 

    Weeks 12-19

    Spring Semester 

    Unit Title 

    Essential Standards

    Department and  

    District Assessments

    Expected Timeframe

    The Art of Persuasion


    Anchor Text:

    I Have a Dream Speech by MLK

    SAVVAS/MyPerspective Textbook



    Students will write an on-demand argumentative essay.

    Essential -

    RI 6: Analyze Author’s Purpose

    RI 8: Identify Logical Fallacies, Rhetoric

    W1: Argumentative Writing 


    Supporting - 

    RI1: Cite Thorough Textual Evidence

    RI3: Analyze Effects of Author’s Choices

    RI4: Determining Meaning of Words/Phrases

    RI9: Analyze Historical Documents 

    L5: Figurative Language, Word Choice, and Nuances

    Summative: Argumentative Letter Essay 


    District On-Demand Argumentative Essay 

    Weeks 1-5

    Novel Approaches to Life


    Anchor Text:

    The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

    SAVVAS/MyPerspective Textbook

    Essential -

    RL3: Characterization 

    RL6: Analyze Author’s Choices, POV

    RL8: Analyze development of a theme


    Supporting - 

    RL1:Cite Thorough Textual Evidence 

    RL2: Analyze Theme 

    RI6: Author’s Purpose 

    L5: Figurative Language, Word Choice, and Nuances

    W2: Informative and Explanatory Writing

    W6: Using Technology 

    W8: Research 

    Summative: The Hate U Give Literary Essay; Upstander Website Project

    Weeks 6-16

    Sweet Sorrow


    Anchor Text:  

    Romeo and Juliet Play by William Shakespeare  

    Essential - 

    RL3: Characterization 

    RL6: Analyze Author’s Choices, POV

    L5: Analyze Figurative Language


    Supporting - 

    RL1:Cite Thorough Textual Evidence 

    RL2: Analyze Theme 

    RL4: Determining Meaning of Words/Phrases 

    SL4: Presenting Information

    ACT/Aspire Exam 


    NWEA MAP Growth 


    Final Summative: Romeo and Juliet Choiceboard

    Weeks 17-21

    + All titles subject to change at the discretion of the teaching team

    The following resources and videos or clips may be  used to support or enhance student learning: 

    Most Dangerous Game: 1932 (NR)

    Gnomeo and Juliet (PG)

    Romeo and Juliet: 1968 (PG) 1996 (PG-13) 2014 (PG-13)

    Various TED-Talks and/or Spoken Word Poems on related subjects or themes

    Various Disney/Pixar short films on related subjects or themes 

    Various texts from MyPerspective textbooks

    Nonfiction articles on related subjects or themes from academic sources such as Common Lit and News-ELA