IA: Children's Literature
California School of the Arts - 9th Grade
Class Goals:
What is Children’s Literature? Over the course of the semester, we will attempt to answer that question, exploring the genre through different sections dedicated to Learning Stories, Children Poetry, and Fairytales. For each of these sections, we will be exploring different example texts, discuss the readings, and try our hand at creating our own pieces. At the end of the semester, you will choose one of your assignments to expand on to create a final, revised piece.
Course Objectives:
1. Explore the creative process through a specific genre of writing
2. Improve editing and re-writing skills
3. Learn how to critique (and be critiqued) constructively
4. Learn about varied techniques of writing
Grading Scale:
Score
Level
Description
5
Mastery
Student demonstrates complete mastery of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
4
Proficiency
Student demonstrates a proficient command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
3
Developing
Student demonstrates an sufficient command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
2
Beginning
Student demonstrates a growing command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
1
Emerging
Student demonstrates a weak command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
0
No Evidence of Mastery
Student demonstrates little to no command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
Grading Categories & Percentages:
Class Participation/Writing Activities: 40% of the grade
Classes will be split between discussion and writing activities engaging with the topic. This grade section is reserved for discussions, peer workshops, and any writing activities assigned through the semester.
Major Writing Assignment: 40% of the grade
For every major unit, you will be given a major writing assignment to create a Children’s Learning story, a Poem, and a Fairytale. Unlike the daily writing activities, these assignments will be graded on completeness of the story.
Final Revision: 20% of the grade
For the final project of this semester, you will choose one of the Major Writing assignments to build off of. For the final few weeks of the semester, you will revise this assignment, making substantial revisions from the first submission to the final submission. This assignment will be due on the final class of the semester, Wednesday, May 4th.
School Retake Policy: Retakes will be available for summative assessments only, as described in the detailed syllabus linked above.
Conservatory Retake Policy: When necessary, a student will have two weeks to retake or redo an assignment. After that, the initial grade will stand
School Extra Credit Policy: The concept of extra credit work goes against our beliefs about learning and assessment. The remedy for improving grades is to complete the work already assigned and then focus on reassessment opportunities.
All Conservatory Assignments are submitted on Schoology
Late/Missing Work: Late/Missing work will be accepted throughout the semester. For activities and assignments, any late work will be given half credit after the initial due date. For the periodic submissions, due to the nature of the check-ups, the submission will go down one point on the grade scale for every week it is late.
What is Children’s Literature? Over the course of the semester, we will attempt to answer that question, exploring the genre through different sections dedicated to Learning Stories, Children Poetry, and Fairytales. For each of these sections, we will be exploring different example texts, discuss the readings, and try our hand at creating our own pieces. At the end of the semester, you will choose one of your assignments to expand on to create a final, revised piece.
Course Objectives:
1. Explore the creative process through a specific genre of writing
2. Improve editing and re-writing skills
3. Learn how to critique (and be critiqued) constructively
4. Learn about varied techniques of writing
Grading Scale:
Score
Level
Description
5
Mastery
Student demonstrates complete mastery of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
4
Proficiency
Student demonstrates a proficient command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
3
Developing
Student demonstrates an sufficient command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
2
Beginning
Student demonstrates a growing command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
1
Emerging
Student demonstrates a weak command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
0
No Evidence of Mastery
Student demonstrates little to no command of the course goals and objectives through written and practical assessments.
Grading Categories & Percentages:
Class Participation/Writing Activities: 40% of the grade
Classes will be split between discussion and writing activities engaging with the topic. This grade section is reserved for discussions, peer workshops, and any writing activities assigned through the semester.
Major Writing Assignment: 40% of the grade
For every major unit, you will be given a major writing assignment to create a Children’s Learning story, a Poem, and a Fairytale. Unlike the daily writing activities, these assignments will be graded on completeness of the story.
Final Revision: 20% of the grade
For the final project of this semester, you will choose one of the Major Writing assignments to build off of. For the final few weeks of the semester, you will revise this assignment, making substantial revisions from the first submission to the final submission. This assignment will be due on the final class of the semester, Wednesday, May 4th.
School Retake Policy: Retakes will be available for summative assessments only, as described in the detailed syllabus linked above.
Conservatory Retake Policy: When necessary, a student will have two weeks to retake or redo an assignment. After that, the initial grade will stand
School Extra Credit Policy: The concept of extra credit work goes against our beliefs about learning and assessment. The remedy for improving grades is to complete the work already assigned and then focus on reassessment opportunities.
All Conservatory Assignments are submitted on Schoology
Late/Missing Work: Late/Missing work will be accepted throughout the semester. For activities and assignments, any late work will be given half credit after the initial due date. For the periodic submissions, due to the nature of the check-ups, the submission will go down one point on the grade scale for every week it is late.