K-12 Curriculum Design
The 20% Project
English 11
A 4-week choice research project which fosters inquiry-based learning and student engagement. Students are asked to research any topic they wish via a 10-step process supported with exemplars.
Design & Reasoning: 11th-grade students must show mastery of the Research Process. In years past, we have assigned multi-draft essays on the impacts of historical events. After distance and hybrid learning, I realized my students had to rediscover the joy of curiousity and discovery. The 20% Project, inspired by Google's "20 Time", was my solution. In this project, students are encouraged to research any topic they choose; some explore potential careers, others learn a new hobby, and a few try to solve unsolved mysteries. Through inquiry-based learning strategies and a set of 10 well-organized research steps, they create a digital presentation of their synthesized findings.
Standards
11.7.7.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
11.7.8.8: Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.
A Lesson on Civil Discourse
AP Language & Composition
In order to foster a safe, collaborative learning environment, my team crafted this lesson on the core values of AP English Language & Composition.
Design & Reasoning: In AP Lang, we analyze the rhetoric of dozens of speakers with whose perspectives range from staunch conservative to wildly liberal. Students are encouraged to view current and historical events through the eyes of others, and this often leads to high-level discussions on hot topics. We decided to begin the course with a conversational, instructional video outlining our core values and why they're foundational. We used a comic from The Oatmeal as our text.
Standards
11.3.1.1: Exchange ideas through storytelling, discussion, and collaboration, both as facilitator and participant, expressing ideas, intentionally considering the perspectives of Dakota and Anishinaabe people as well as other perspectives.
a. Exchange ideas on grade 11–12 topics, texts, and issues from social studies and science.
b. Seek the perspectives of groups not represented to promote a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.
c. Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed.
d. Develop a shared vision and goal in seeking diverse perspectives from the wider world. (e.g., experts from the local community or students from other schools, towns, states, or countries).
e. Employ conflict resolution strategies.
AP Lang Core Beliefs Video.webmThe Rhetoric of Disney Songs
Pre-AP English 9
In Pre-AP English 9, students are asked to practice rhetorical analysis for the first time. As an AP English Language & Composition Teacher, I'm well-versed in the rigor of this from both a teaching and learning perspective. In order to ease into the skill with familiar, fun material, I decided to teach the Rhetoric of Disney Songs. Students were asked to identify the rhetorical situation of the song (Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence) and support each definition with lyrics. (Lesson adapted from Timm Freitas)