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English and Social Studies departments have taken integration to a new level
In every classroom there is some natural integration as teachers make connections for students between their classes. Integration, in theory, has many levels. This integrated course is called “alignment.” This means that students receive all of the same curriculum information they would receive in a normal class but they are receiving the instruction simultaneously for the entire course. Research has shown that this type of integration helps students connect their learning and makes the learning more relevant and meaningful.
Everything we are doing as educators is coming from the experiences we have had with past classes and from the current instruction we are receiving from workshops conducted by the International Center for Leadership in Education, to which the Hortonville Area School District has been generously sending us. (You can find more information on how education is changing at http://www.LeaderEd.com) Change can be difficult for all of us, but in looking at a traditional classroom (which hasn’t changed much in the past 100 years) and comparing it to the world outside (which has drastically changed in the past 100 years), we know that we need to do some things differently if we are going to keep our students interested. We are so proud to have your child in our class benefitting from the instruction we are providing.
Our hope is that this course becomes a model, not only for our departments and school district, but for neighboring school districts as well. As a school district we have taken a huge step with our Strategic Plan, and our goal to provide every child with the best possible education is unwavering. We want to create life-long learners, who will not only excel in the rest of their high school career, but at college and in the business world. Reading, writing, researching and applying knowledge are our key focuses, and we will be doing everything we can to help your child succeed.
Freshmen Year:
For the first semester we study the same three regions of the world as the other Geography classes (Latin America, Western Europe and North America), but we are connecting it to the literature of those regions. The English 9 Honors curriculum studies all the various genres of literature. Instead of looking at literature unit by unit (short stories, followed by poetry, followed by drama, etc.), we are tying in the various genres and literary vocabulary with the literature of the region.
Second semester we study government. In keeping with the spirit of democracy we will be implementing democratic principles. With Mrs. Brahe and Mrs. Compton as incumbent co-presidents the students will become citizens of the classroom. They will elect cabinet members, create a House of Representatives and a Senate and debate both issues in our country and issues in the classroom. We will explore the judicial system through case studies and mock trials. With Atticus Finch, from To Kill a Mockingbird, as a model lawyer. As an extra bonus, a graduate of Hortonville High School, who currently works for the Democratic National Committee, will be answering questions from the class. (If anyone has a contact we can speak to from the Republican Party, we would love to make a connection.) Every week will begin and end with class meetings to discuss how the class is progressing. Students will be graded based on their participation in the classroom, along with daily work.
Sophomore Year: (only offered school years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011) The social studies curriculum sequence is currently undergoing change to move US History to a junior level course.
During the first semester we study American Literature and American History from Exploration to 1914. Emphasis is placed on making connections between historical issues and today’s world. Additionally, students read literature, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Maggie, A Girl of the Streets, that gives them a better understanding of life during the time periods being studied.
During the second semester study continues through history, starting with World War I and ending in 2010. The focus of the literature will gradually move from shorter works to modern novels. Students will gain a better understanding of the conflicts and cultures that have been a part of our country in the last 100 years. Instead of traditional memorization of facts, history will be learned through the eyes of the people who lived during each time period.
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