Vocabulary, Grammar, and Writing Using STEM, Intermediate I

Open to: Grades 3 and up

Prerequisites: Qualifying math or verbal score and successful completion of Vocabulary, Grammar, and Writing Using STEM, Beginners or placement test

Course Format: Session Based. See calendar for session dates and application deadlines.

Course Length: 12 weeks (Fall, Winter, Early Summer, Mid-Summer)

Course Code: ELD2

Course Description

Description

CTY’s online English language development courses are challenging, above-grade-level courses designed for students in grades 3 and up who seek to enhance their English writing skills with the emphasis on building strong grammar and vocabulary. These courses advance each student’s English academic content language in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math for academic writing in those areas.

Vocabulary, Grammar, and Writing Using STEM, Intermediate I is designed to help non-native English speakersstudents who have either successfully completed the Vocabulary, Grammar, and Writing Using STEM, Beginners course, or have approximately two to six years of exposure to the English Language. In this course, students will build strong vocabulary and grammar, and improve their basic writing skills.

The interactive lessons will give students the opportunity to take risks and have fun while working on improving English grammar, speaking, listening, reading, and composition skills. The virtual classroom includes live audio and video interaction with the instructor and online classmates, interactive whiteboard, multimedia learning materials including games, and other features to enhance online learning.

In this course, students will:

Read several topics and become more familiar and comfortable with reading informational texts in English.
Continue to develop linguistic proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Learn the meanings of new words for BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills) and basic English vocabulary.
Learn CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency) and STEM academic content vocabulary and language.
Acquire better domain-specific English abilities by practicing tasks through various methods.
Become able to write varied sentences (simple, compound, complex) and effective paragraphs including all three types of sentences.

By the end of this course, students will acquire more STEM concepts, knowledge, and vocabulary. This course will help prepare eligible students to take CTY’s online science, engineering, and math courses. Review course prerequisites carefully prior to enrolling.

In order to determine the placement level for this course, an ELD placement test can be requested from ctyonline@jhu.edu

Materials Required

Students must purchase a headset with microphone. A microphone with an on/off switch is recommended.

In addition, the following textbooks are required for this course:

Great Sentences for Great Paragraphs: Great Writing 1
by Keith S. Folse, April Muchmore-Vokoun, and Elena Vestri Solomon. Heinle Cengage Learning, Third Edition, 2010.
ISBN-13: 978-1424049899

Wordly Wise 3000 Book 3
by Kenneth Hodkinson and Sandra Adams. Educators Publishing Service, Third Edition, 2013.
ISBN: 978-0838876039

An English Dictionary of your choice or Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Pearson Longman, Fifth Edition, 2009.
ISBN: 978-1408215333

Optional Workbook (NOT Required):

Writers Express: A Handbook for Young Writers, Thinkers, and Learners
by Dave Kemper, Ruth Nathan, and Patrick Sebranek. 1995.
ISBN: 0-669-38632-4

Detailed Course Information

Course Details

This course will focus on improving sentence structure and provide an introduction to paragraph writing.

Students will:

Learn the basic organization of a well-written paragraph
Produce a basic paragraph that includes a topic sentence, body, and concluding sentence

Week	Lesson	STEM Topic	Grammar Topic
1	1	The Atmosphere	Introductions/Brainstorming/Journal Writing Writing Basics Review Part 1
1	2	The Atmosphere	Writing Basics Review Part 2
2	1	Earth’s Seasons	Brainstorming/Journal Writing Writing Basics Review Part 3
2	2	Earth’s Seasons	Writing Basics Review Part 4
3	1	Climate	Brainstorming/Journal Writing Writing Compound Sentences in Simple Present Tense Part 1
3	2	Climate	Questions/Review Writing Compound Sentences in Simple Present Tense Part 2
4	1	Earth’s Magnetic Field	Brainstorming/Journal Writing Understand Beginning with the Simple Past Tense Part 1
4	2	Earth’s Magnetic Field	Questions/Review Understand Beginning with the Simple Past Tense Part 2
5	1	Nonrenewable Resources	Brainstorming/Journal Writing Writing Compound Sentences in Simple Past Tense Part 1
5	2	Nonrenewable Resources	Questions/Review Writing Compound Sentences in Simple Past Tense Part 2
6	1	Midterm Review	Midterm Review Part 1
6	2	Midterm Review	Midterm Review Part 2
7	1	Introduction to Genetics	Questions/Review Using Words, Phrases, and Editing Skills to Build Better Sentences
7	2	Introduction to Genetics	Questions/Brainstorming/Journal Writing Review Writing Paragraphs in Simple Present and Simple Past
8	1	Role of Organisms in the Environment	Questions/Review Using Present Progressive and Connectors in Sentences Part 1
8	2	Role of Organisms in the Environment	Questions/Review/Brainstorming/Journal Writing Using Present Progressive and Connectors in Sentences Part 2
9	1	Organ Systems: Skeletal System	Questions/Review/Peer Editing Using Adverbs and Parts of Speech to Build Better Sentences Part 1
9	2	Organ Systems: Skeletal System	Questions/Review/Peer Editing Using Adverbs and Parts of Speech to Build Better Sentences Part 2 Writing Complex Sentences in Simple Future Tense Part 1
10	1	Organ Systems: Digestive and Excretory System	Questions/Review/Peer Editing/Journal Writing Writing Complex Sentences in Simple Future Tense Part 2 Using Adjective Clauses, Place Phrases, and Time Words Part 1
10	2	Organ Systems: Digestive and Excretory System	Questions/Review/Peer Editing Using Adjective Clauses, Place Phrases, and Time Words Part 2
11	1	Fossils	Grammar Review for Final Exam Part 1 & 2
11	2	Fossils	Grammar Review for Final Exam Part 1 & 2
12	1	Review Last 6 Weeks of STEM Topics Covered	Grammar Review for Final Exam Part 3 & 4
12	2	Review Last 6 Weeks of STEM Topics Covered	Grammar Review for Final Exam Part 3 & 4

Time Required

Students should expect to spend about 5-7 hours per week on this course.

Technical Requirements

This course requires a properly maintained computer with high-speed internet access and an up-to-date web browser (such as Chrome or Firefox). The student must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

This course uses an online virtual classroom for discussions with the instructor. The classroom works on standard computers with the Adobe Connect Add-in or Adobe Flash plugin, and also tablets or handhelds that support the Adobe Connect Mobile app. Students who are unable to attend live sessions will need a computer with the Adobe Connect Add-in or Adobe Flash plugin installed to watch recorded meetings. The Adobe Connect Add-in, Adobe Flash plugin, and Adobe Connect Mobile app are available for free download. Students who do not have the Flash plug-in installed or enabled on their browsers will be prompted to download and install the Adobe Connect add-in when accessing the virtual classroom.

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