Teaching an ELA elective that you’ve dreamed up yourself is such a joy. Today I want to stir up some ideas together for the next time you’ve got the chance to put your own spin on an older course or propose a new course altogether.
So let’s start with a few questions:
Would you rather take a course called “Theater” or “Contemporary Theater: The Triumphs of Hamilton & Wicked “?
“Creative Writing” or “Writing for Change across Platforms”?
“Film & Literature” or “How the Oscars got it Wrong”?
“Argument Writing” or “How to Get What You Want (with your Writing).”
“Digital Literacy” or “Understanding Spin: How the Sites You Choose Impact What You Believe.”
While many schools continue to run electives like “Creative Writing” and “Poetry,” which are often wonderful courses, I believe it’s time for a shift in framing. Writing is EVERYWHERE today, playing a vital role in our politics, our science, our businesses, our media creation and consumption, our entertainment, and our understanding of the world. To help our students see that, we can tap into modern platforms and media to hook our students, teaching similar key skills and texts in a new context, alongside more contemporary voices.
ELA Elective: Writing Across Platforms to Change Minds
There are so many ways you could teach a course like this. I think I would plan it platform by platform, looking at models, inviting students to find models, and then creating, editing, and sharing work based on the platform.
I imagine starting with a unit on digital literacy and responsible creating. Then spending time researching issues students would like to center their work on throughout the term. What type of change do they wish they could create right now? Whether it’s an issue in your community or a larger national issue, whatever they would like to change will become the guiding star of the course for them.
Then moving through possible units on persuasive emails, opinion pieces, social posts, documentaries, performance poetry, and podcasts.
ELA Elective: Reading, Writing, and Debating Dystopia
Dystopia provides a powerful medium for influence. This elective could blend classic texts like Fahrenheit 451, The Giver and parts of 1984 with the explosion of contemporary dystopia available now.
You might begin by discussing the tools writers have at their disposal to change minds. Then move into texts – I’d imagine doing Fahrenheit 451 as a whole class text, then some book clubs, some choice, and a class look at parts of 1984 (the whole thing would dominate the class too much, I think).
Along the way, students can consider questions like: Why has dystopia become so popular? How does dystopia wield influence? How are dystopia and propaganda different (or the same)? What makes dystopia effective?
You can also build in creation, giving students the chance to create short dystopian pieces digging into issues that matter to them. These could be short stories, poems, or graphic novellas. Maybe all of the above.
ELA Elective: Writing Success for Small Businesses & Nonprofits
Writing is a core part of so many jobs across industries. This elective could explore writing like press releases, grant applications, media pitches, social media posts and captions, effective emails, website design and copy, blog posts, and even podcasts.
Along the way, you might dive into case studies.
Consider a nonprofit like Illuminative. Illuminative provides a steady stream of commentary through its social media, runs two podcasts, offers comprehensive website resources to help its audience, runs an email newsletter, and more.
Consider a small business like Smitten Kitchen. Deb Perelman’s love of cooking has led her to run a popular blog, start a podcast, run a Youtube channel, manage popular social media accounts, write multiple cookbooks, etc.
These days, almost every organization looking to market itself needs to run a blog, newsletter, podcast, or website. Something that allows it to tell its story to the world and connect with people who need what it provides.
Students with effective skills in this area will be highly marketable when it comes to finding summer jobs and internships, and later on they’ll have more confidence in considering the possibility of starting an organization or business of their own.
ELA Elective: Hamilton, Wicked, & The Outsiders
If you’re looking to create a theater elective on just about any aspect of theater, framing it through one, two, or all three of these popular shows just might help reel students in.
You can teach performance, set design, music, costume design, etc., stay focused on literary elements, or combine the two. You could even incorporate writing scenes, single acts, or entire plays.
Part of me wants to spend the next week imagining this elective in loving detail, but I know you’ve got your own ideas, and my goal here is really just to light the fire.
To Quote Andrew Marvell, “Had we but world enough and time…”
This is just the tip of the iceberg! I’d like to keep brainstorming, finding spins for The Rise of the Graphic Novel, Novels-in-Verse & Performance poetry, the American Dream as told by people besides F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Best Writing not found between Book Covers, The New Research Process, Multimedia journalism…
But I could probably spend a year on elective ideas, so I’m going to leave it here for now. I know you have tons of ideas of your own. My main goal here is to shout out for a rebrand and a reframe. STEM may have 3D printers and laser cutters, but we’ve got the process through which every mind throughout history has been shaped and changed.
Ooh, before we call it for today, I also wanted to highlight some of the wonderful outside-the-box electives from our elective series last year. You can check out full episodes on all of these themes through the links below!
ELA Elective: Asking (and Answering) Big Questions with Socratic Seminar
Amanda knew she wanted to help her students get better at discussion, and ground the conversations in topics that felt relevant and important to her students.
ELA Elective: Teaching Dramatic Writing
The State of Georgia houses a significant part of the film industry, but a few years ago it was lacking qualified applicants for many of the jobs within the industry.
Enter, the Dramatic Writing Elective.
Check out the full interview, Teaching Dramatic Writing, with Valerie Boehm, here.
ELA Elective: Scifi & Fantasy
Caitlin has split the elective into two mini-courses, one on fantasy in the fall term, one on sci-fi in the spring. Since some kids switch in or out at the term break anyway, this keeps things simple and clear when teaching sciFi and fantasy.
The course focuses on how the stories of the two genres act as commentary on current society.
Check out the full interview, “Teaching Scifi & Fantasy,” with Caitlin Lore.
ELA Elective: Genius Hour
Melissa and her students kick off the elective with self-exploration, considering their passions first before moving into the projects.
Check out the full interview, “When Genius Hour Works,” with Melissa Moser
