High School English Language Arts

/gingersmith
My name is Ginger Smith and I have been the English teacher at Taliaferro County School for over 20 years.  As I like to tell people, I've been at the school since the bricks went up! I've seen a lot of changes at TCS, and this looks to be the most exciting year yet.  Parents, please feel to contact me anytime at the school or at my email address: gsmith@taliaferro.k12.ga.us.

Milestones Test Prep Materials

EOC Study Guides from the Department of Education and websites that students can use to study.

Here are the state ELA standards for 9-12th grade:

This is a great parent resource on how to raise your child's reading level:

9th Grade Literature

You've reached 9th Grade Literature! This is the first high school English class that our Jaguars take.  

We are using some wonderful curriculum and writing programs this year.  One of those is called Writescore where students get intensive practice at the types of writing they will see on the Milestones EOC test.  

At the end of the year, there will be an EOC testing the reading and writing skills of our students.  Everything we do in class is crucial for student achievement in their high school career. 

Important Links:

10th Grade Literature

You've reached 10th Grade Literature! This is the second high school English class that our Jaguars take.  

Our units for the first part of this year are:

  1. Argumentative Writing
  2. Narrative writing
  3. How To Be a Reader of Fiction/Nonfiction

There is no EOC in this class, but all skills learned prepare students for the EOC in American Literature.

Important Links:

American Literature

You've reached American Literature! This is usually the third high school English class that our Jaguars take.  

We will be extending our reading ability so that we can go "deeper" into the texts we read and study the author's purpose as well as the elements of good writing.  

Students will use our new writing benchmarks to make sure they are on track to pass the EOC by December.  We will be using Writescore to specifically target those areas of skill that students need to improve in.

At the end of the year there will be an EOC which tests the reading and writing skills of our students.  Everything we do in class is crucial to their performance on that test.  My personal goal is for our students to achieve at their highest level, and to prepare them for college or technical school.

Important Links:

British Literature

You've reached British Literature! This is the last high school English class that our Jaguars take.  

This year we will be studying one of Shakespeare's greatest works:  Hamlet.  Students will increase their writing skills by working on several research and analysis papers throughout the year as well.

Important Links: