Connected Curriculum Unit

Alverno College / ED 642

August 11, 2005

Carney Lentz

Mauston High School - Juneau County, WI

Mauston Alternative Learning Academy (MALA) for students...

-who have recently dropped out of school-who are at-risk of not graduating-who are credit deficient

Students school level range is 10-12+-age range is approximately 14-20

School Day and After School Offerings

No designated academic targets -run parallel to the regular daytime classes

Classroom Context

•Term one-writing/research

•Term two-literature and psychology

•Term three-world cultures

•Term Four-nonfiction

MALA After-School English Courses

Term one-writing/research

Essential Questions

•What is good writing?

•How do we most effectively and accurately communicate our ideas and feelings?

•How should we, as Americans, take part in the events of the world?

??????

OutcomesEnglish Standards:•B.12.1 Create or produce writing to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.•B.12.2 Plan, revise, edit, and publish clear and effective writing.•B.12.3 Understand the function of various forms, structures, and punctuation marks of standard American English and use them appropriately in oral and written communications.

Social Studies Standards:•C.12.8 Locate, organize, analyze, and use information from various sources

to understand an issue of public concern, take a position, and communicate the position

•C.12.10 Identify ways people may participate effectively in community affairs and the political process

•C.12.12 Explain the United States' relationship to other nations and its role in international organizations, such as the United Nations, North Atlantic

Treaty Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and North American Free Trade Agreement

Unit Plan

•Students will create a document titled “Student Guide to Good Writing”

•As students work through the course they will be exposed to samples of writing (both good and bad)

•They will also be writing several of their own pieces

•The exploration of “Aspects of Good Writing” will come out of these two activities

•The writing tasks and samples will be related to topics suggested by the social studies standards