What your child learns in 9th grade in Alaska
9th grade is the first year of high school, and the last year of AK STAR. Math in Gradelings covers high school algebra (expressions, equations, functions and data), and English classes read and write more closely. Social studies covers civics and government, including the Alaska Constitution, statehood and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and Alaska's resource economy and the Permanent Fund.
9th grade subjects in the Alaska content standards
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: high school algebra: expressions, equations, functions and quadratics
- Geometry: shapes, angles and the space around us
- Measurement and data: measuring, collecting data and reading what it shows
17 units, including Exponents & Powers, Polynomials, Multi-Step Equations, Linear Relations.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: complex literature and information texts
- Writing: argument, analysis and research
- Speaking and listening: sharing ideas and building on what others say
12 units, including Close Reading, Literary Elements, Grammar & Style, Word Detective.
Science
Focus areas
- Living systems and ecosystems
- Matter, forces and energy
- Earth and human activity
10 units, including Cells from Cells, Reproduction, Atoms & Electrons, Electrons & Compounds.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Civics: how government works in the United States
- Alaska's constitution and government
- Alaska history, land claims and the economy
9 units, including Foundations of Democracy, Taking Part, Media & Democracy, Forms of Government.
Printable 9th grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Look for comments on planning ahead for course choices and credits, explaining reasoning in math and weighing perspectives in social studies and English.
Alaska has no statewide report-card scale in 9th grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
9th grade students also take the Alaska state tests (AK STAR). Read the state tests guide.
Alaska's Cultural Standards for Students apply in every grade and every subject. Read about Cultural Standards.
The four practice steps in 9th grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the learning standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the learning standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Ready for 9th grade?
9th grade builds on what your child practiced in 8th grade. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: Squares, Cubes & Roots, Patterns & Two-Step Equations, Pythagorean Theorem, Surface Area & Volume, Big, Small & Real Numbers
- English Language Arts: Close Reading, Literary Devices, Word Study, Irony, Satire & Allusion, Whose Story Is It?
- Science: Light & Radiation, Motion, Forces & Newton’s Laws, Kinetic & Potential Energy, Fields & Forces at a Distance, Genes & Heredity
- Social Studies: Exploration & Exchange, Founding Ideas, A New Nation, Rights & Amendments, Factories & Reformers
Common questions
9th grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Alaska content standards. 9th grade is the first year of high school, and the last year of AK STAR. Math in Gradelings covers high school algebra (expressions, equations, functions and data), and English classes read and write more closely. Social studies covers civics and government, including the Alaska Constitution, statehood and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and Alaska's resource economy and the Permanent Fund.
Alaska has no statewide report-card scale in 9th grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. Students in 9th grade also write the Alaska state tests (AK STAR), which is separate from the report card.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
9th grade builds on 8th grade. In math, that means Squares, Cubes & Roots, Patterns & Two-Step Equations, Pythagorean Theorem. In English language arts, that means Close Reading, Literary Devices, Word Study.
About 15 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Read what they are interested in: graphic novels, sports pages, series. Then talk about it. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice 9th grade skills with Gradelings
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