High school LA teachers asked to participate in survey on booklist

[jmpewitt]

I copy a 6/9/09 message from Kathleen Vasquez inviting teacher
participation in a survey to determine the text titles for each grade
level. In that message she also includes grade level specifications
and selection criteria. Concerns about the process leading to this
proposed list is well-documented. Given that minutes from that series
have not been released this is the first I have seen the grade level
specifications and selection criteria.

Given that RHS will meet with Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, Kathleen Vasquez,
Michael Tolley on June 16th and the survey is open until June 19th, I
haven't yet opened it yet.

Janith Pewitt
RHS LA and Transitional Bilingual Departments

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Below are Grade Level Specifications for Text Book Adoption and
general statements about the criteria for selection. These can be
used to guide your decision-making about the texts under consideration
for grade levels 9-12. Additionally, the District’s LA Adoption
website lists the titles and includes a link to summaries of the
titles.

[link - http://www.seattleschools.org/area/literacy/laadoption_index.html
]


Grade Level Specifications for Text Adoption

Ninth Grade Introduction to Literature and Composition
This course is the students' "launching pad" to high school. The core/
core choice texts should include a variety of genres and reflect the
themes of identity and self-discovery. Works will also be chosen that
lend themselves to an analysis of the elements of literature.
Classical and contemporary college-bound works will be included, and
the core choice list should reflect a variety of reading levels and
cultures, as well as a variety of themes. Students and teachers
should be able to make connections text-world, text-self, text-text.

Tenth Grade World Literature
Tenth grade selections will reflect a mostly non-Western, geographical
emphasis. The core choice texts should reflect a variety of genres.
Classical and contemporary college-bound works will be included, and
the core choice list should reflect a variety of reading levels and
cultures, as well as a variety of themes. Students and teachers
should be able to make connections text-world, text-self, text-text.

Eleventh Grade American Literature
Eleventh grade core and core choice texts should reflect a variety of
multicultural perspectives. Some ties to historical chronology/
historical context should be possible. Major themes for this grade
level are the different interpretations of the American experience and
the American dream. Classical and contemporary college-bound works
will be included, and the core choice list should reflect a variety of
reading levels and cultures, as well as a variety of themes. A
variety of genres should be represented, especially plays. Students
and teachers should be able to make connections text-world, text-self,
text-text.

Twelfth Grade Comparative Literature
These texts should be chosen for a high level of complexity. The
texts should lend themselves to comparative analysis, across genres or
themes or within genres or themes. Classical and contemporary college-
bound works will be included, and the core choice list should reflect
a variety of reading levels and cultures, as well as a variety of
themes. Students and teachers should be able to make connections text-
world, text-self, text-text.

Criteria for Selection

9-12 Texts
The 9-12 core curricula will ensure a full complement of texts: a
diversity of authors, experiences, genres, and links to academic
disciplines.

Complexity
The adoption committee will be examining literature that requires
close and careful attention for the reader to comprehend and
interpret. The works selected will provide students the opportunity
to draw out ideas that are not stated directly in the texts and
examine interrelated aspects of the texts, including relationships,
structure, style, vocabulary and purpose. As a result, multiple
readings of the works will yield deeper understandings for all
readers.

Cultural Competence
Texts selected will be chosen in part for their cultural
authenticity. The diverse offerings of texts across the 9-12 core
curricula will provide students with a world view of literature
specifically chosen to reflect historical, cultural and artistic
diversity. The importance of these texts is in the variety of beliefs
and views presented within them. The complex, rich and sometimes
difficult ideas and language will be taught formally with teacher
direction to fully explore these perspectives in a positive way that
informs, includes and challenges all students from all backgrounds.