Grades 9 & 10

9th and 10th grades are a time of great transitions. Your scholar is entering high school and exploring ideas about their future. This guide provides an overview of the academic standards and social emotional milestones that your child will experience this year. Academic standards are important because they help ensure that all scholars are prepared for success. This guide provides ideas of supporting your child as they begin to make plans for their future. Use this guide to help you speak with your child’s teacher about their progress and growth over the year as well as to begin planning for your child’s post-secondary experience.

Learning Partnership Guides

A Guide to Your Scholar's Success

English Language Arts

English in 9th and 10th grade focuses on reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language standards. Scholars focus on reading and rereading complex fiction and nonfiction materials. They become skilled at gathering information, evaluating sources, and citing material accurately. Scholars make and defend claims/arguments to show what they understand about what they have read and researched. Scholars focus on speaking clearly and listening attentively. They express their own ideas and build on the ideas of others

Ways to talk with your child's teacher:

Ask to see a sample of your child’s work.
Ask the teacher questions such as: Is this piece of work satisfactory? How could it be better? Is my child on track?
How can I help my child improve or excel in this area?
If my child needs extra support or wants to learn more about a subject, are there resources to help their learning outside the classroom?

Math

The high school math standards are organized around five conceptual categories: number and quantity, algebra, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. These standards allow scholars to practice applying mathematical ways of thinking to real world issues and challenges; preparing scholars to think and reason mathematically. In addition, high school standards set a rigorous definition of college and career readiness, by demanding scholars to develop a depth of understanding and an ability to apply mathematics to novel situations, as college students and employees regularly do.

Ways to talk with your child's teacher:

Where is my child excelling? How can I support this success?
What do you think is giving my child the most trouble? How can I help my child improve in this area?
Are there options provided by the school for enrichment experiences in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM areas) or for scholars having difficulty in mathematics?

Science

During grades 9–12, your child will begin to form deeper connections between concepts and skills previously learned in grades 6–8, such as applying statistics to scientific questions, evaluating limitations of models and creating algorithms to solve problems. The four major strands of science are: physical sciences, life sciences, earth and space sciences, and engineering design.

Social Studies

In 9th and 10th grades, scholars apply their deeper understanding of social studies concepts on a global scale. Scholars explore major themes and developments that shaped the modern world, including human rights, revolution, and democracy, to develop an understanding of the roots of current world issues. Scholars will also practice literacy standards as they use essential questions and inquiry to work on skills such as reading, speaking, writing, and thinking like a historian. Scholars hone their ability to gather and evaluate information, and then use that information as evidence to support a claim.

Tech Skills

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL - Nineth & Tenth Grade Milestones

Crave adult connection even while fighting for their own identity; need adults to listen and negotiate rules and requirements
Often embarrassed to be seen with parents; can be critical of parents’ dress, habits, friends, and ideas
Social circle is large and varied; includes a diverse group of friends
Very anxious to be liked
Exploring own sexual identity
Adult personality continues to develop
Typically, loud and rambunctious
Like to be busy and involved in many extracurricular activities
Safe, positive rites of passage can be important to emerging sense of self
Can be a pain at home and a star at school
May give in to peer pressure to see doing well in school as “nerdy” or “uncool”
Service projects, student government, class dances, sporting events, and other group undertakings often lead to a first career interest
Begin to develop distinctive sense of humor; can be extremely funny and creative
Generally happy and easy-going
Recognize own strengths and weaknesses

QUESTION & ANSWER

Q: Who do I contact if I have a concern about my child?

A: First, always contact your scholar’s teacher/s and discuss your concern. If your concern has not been fully addressed, you can contact the school counselor or principal.

Q: How do I stay informed about my child's progress in every class they take?

A: ParentVUE allows you to see all of your child’s courses, assignments, and current grades. If you have a concern about your child’s grade, first, ask your child to speak with their teacher in that class. Your child should ask what they can do to improve the grade and make a plan to do so. If you are still concerned, contact your child’s teacher directly to see how you can support your child’s success in that class.

OUR COMMITMENT TO SCHOLARS AND FAMILIES

All scholars learn best when they experience physical and emotional safety in classrooms and schools. Scholars and families should expect to see the following adult actions:

Provide a welcoming environment to support building trusting, encouraging relationships with all families.
Prioritize scholar voice and participation in shaping the learning and classroom culture.
Teach for understanding to assure scholars have high expectations and academic supports to grow intellectually.
Focus on scholar cooperation to encourage scholars to learn from and help others.
Implement school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports so that all scholars and adults live out their shared beliefs and actions that make school a safe and fun place to learn.
Teach social and emotional learning skills and strategies during morning meetings and reinforce SEL skills throughout the school day.

High School & Beyond Plan Checklist

Each year, middle and high school scholars are required to complete components to build their High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP).

Click here to access the HSBP Checklist

Getting Ready for College & Career

The ABC's for College & Career Readiness

Attendance

Scholars who maintain good attendance through all years of school:

Achieve grade level standard at a higher rate
Graduate from high school at a higher rate
Develop good habits that contribute to success in school and in future careers
For each day a scholar is absent it takes an average of three days to catch up.

Behavior & Social Emotional Learning

The purpose behind Culturally-Responsive Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (CR-PBIS) is to make schools more effective, efficient, and equitable learning environments for all scholars. By teaching scholars expectations and acknowledging positive behavior, adults increase the predictability, consistency, positive climate, and safety of all at school. Social emotional learning lessons are taught and embedded throughout the school year. To learn more about CR-PBIS and social emotional learning at your school, contact your scholar's teacher or principal.