Grade 10 & 11 English Language Arts: Semester 1: FLEX
What's included
Class Experience
*5% sibling discount* This 12-week course will cover the first half of the 10th and 11th Grade English Languages Arts Common Core Standards in a multi-age setting. Homeschooled students can benefit from a full and complete curriculum whereas students who are already taking ELA can enroll for additional support, practice, or enrichment. Literacy development is a lifelong journey that is composed of many complex concepts and understandings that are not limited to the written Western page. In 2021, reading and writing has taken on new lengths. Importantly, we are now exposed to a much wider variety of literature in the form of film, documentary, theatre, podcast, blogs, songs, webpages, magazine articles, and so much more. Literacy includes the capacity to learn to communicate, read, write, think, explore, and solve problems. Literacy skills are used in paper, digital, and live interactions where people: * analyze critically and solve problems * understand and communicate meaning * create a variety of creative and analytic content * read, view, and listen for fun * make connections both personally and intertextually * engage in personal summaries and analyses * and more! With examples, support, and practice, students will have the opportunity to deepen their critical skills as they work with fun, poignant, age-appropriate, and engaging content… all the while participating in focused conversations and completing core standards. Because I encounter students with all reading and comprehension levels, I provide a diverse instruction to meet their needs. For example, larger print texts will also be presented in audio form (mp3 file) that the students may download at their leisure. Physical movement will be introduced at the beginning of each video lesson to assist in concepts’ retention, and graphic/illustrated PDF and PNG files will be provided to assist those who grasp concepts more visually. Week 1, Lesson 1: Introductions & Icebreakers Week 1, Lesson 2: Grammar & Punctuation Review Week 2, Lesson 1: V For Vendetta: Book 1 Week 2, Lesson 2: Active Reading & Analytical Writing Week 3, Lesson 1: V For Vendetta: Book 2 Week 3, Lesson 2: MLA format: documentation, citing, resources Week 4, Lesson 1: V For Vendetta: Book 3 Week 4, Lesson 2: Guide to Writing Research Papers: What? Why? How? Week 5, Lesson 1: Podcast: The Allustionist Week 5, Lesson 2: Research Papers: Nailing Opening Paragraphs & Thesis Statements Week 6, Lesson 1: Ghosts - Laura Marling, Hurt - Nine Inch Nails, Lose Yourself (CLEAN), Eminem Week 6, Lesson 2: Research Papers: the Importance of a solid outline and how to create yours every time Week 7, Lesson 1: The Social Dilemma, Documentary Week 7, Lesson 2: Research Papers: Typing the Report, Citing Sources, Paraphrasing, and Avoiding Plagiarism Week 8, Lesson 1: Poetry: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night - Dylan Thomas, Daddy - Sylvia Plath, A Total Stranger One Black Day - e. e. cummings Week 8, Lesson 2: Editing Strategies: Proofreading, Organization, Using good Sentence Structure, Active vs. Passive Voice Week 9: MIDTERM BREAK, no video lessons or assignments Week 10, Lesson 1: Flowers for Algernon: Progress Reports 1-9 Week 10, Lesson 2: Run-On Sentences: Nix Them Once and For All! Week 11, Lesson 1: Flowers for Algernon: Progress Reports 10-12 Week 11, Lesson 2: Fact or Opinion: using persuasive language Week 12, Lesson 1: Flowers for Algernon: Progress Reports 13-16 Week 12, Lesson 2: Playing with style and developing your true writer’s voice Weekly schedule: Mondays: Lesson 1: Video lesson with exposure and instruction of the assigned literature. Learners are asked to complete their assigned reading, listening, or viewing material prior to watching the lesson. Learners will have a literary assignment (written, video, audio, or graphic) to be submitted each Thursday, by 7pm ET, if they would like feedback on them. Wednesdays: Lesson 2: Video lesson where learners will complete grammar and writing assignments that will fine-tune their writing skills. Making grammatical mistakes when we speak or write is a natural part of language learning. As we seek to communicate effectively and tighten our production skills, good grammar is an essential toolbox to allow us to communicate more effectively. Fridays: Fun Fact Fridays! Discussion thread on the Classroom where learners will provide as many fun facts as possible about that week’s author, the literary characters, the historical time period, the literary genre, and more! Assignments are optional but highly recommended in order to get the most out of this class. I provide written feedback on all submitted assignments and can grade assignments upon request. Interaction: Learners will have the chance to interact in several ways throughout this course. There are three types of interaction that they will participate in: 1. Learn to class: learners will log on to the classroom to engage in video lessons. This will provide a visual, teacher-led guide to assemble their Google Docs. 2. Learner to teacher: I reply weekdays from 10am ET to 5pm ET (within 2 hours) to any question, concern, or comment made in the classroom. Each week, learners will interact with a discussion board answering guided questions with regards to that week's assignment, so that they may feel supported upon completing it. 3. Learner to learner: week one focuses on introductions and icebreakers, in which learners will have the opportunity to establish a sense of community. Learners will additionally have the opportunity to interact with their peers through the guided weekly discussion questions. Fun Fact Fridays are a teacher-led way for learners to engage with one another and get even more out of this interactive classroom! Finally, learners will ask questions and make positive comments on others' posts as well as have the opportunity to engage in group projects, should they desire. Learners should be prepared to engage with the material and their fellow peers at Grade level. However, due to the interruption of learning these past two years, I will make sure that all learners feel safe and welcome in my class and leave with a positive view of literacy!
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Parents are the best judge of their learners' sensitivities and maturity. Some of the pieces we will read are intense, and a few bring up sensitive issues, such as innate violence. I would be happy to provide links for parents to preview any of the literature they are concerned about.
Supply List
V for Vendetta - Alan Moore Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes Netflix - The Social Dilemma theallutionist.org
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Université Laval
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of Manitoba
My name is Tricia and I am a Métis bilingual (English & French Canadian) BA graduate of English Literature and Music from the University of Manitoba and an MA graduate of Music from Laval University. I have won several classical singing competitions and additionally graduated with honours from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
In high school and university, I appeared in a number of star roles, including the musicals Grease, Showboat, Godspell, and The Snow Queen. I am also very involved in the English language artistic community of Quebec with roles such as Kara, a lead role in the original musical What If? and minor role in Big Fish, presented by Bravi Productions. I am also part of the Artbeat Theatre Group and marketing team as Musical Director.
Entrepreneur and singing teacher for 19 years now, I continue to expand my competencies. I am an accredited teacher of Kindermusik International, a globally recognized American Early Childhood Music Education program for children 0-7 years old. Originally from Manitoba, Canada, I have published poems in several books and journals across the Prairies. I have presented essays and literary creations at the Manitoban Symposium of Literature and at the University of Regina's annual literary and cultural conference: Trash Talkin’. A former Manitoba Arts Council undergraduate writing grant recipient, I have a boundless creative spirit.
In 2015, I co-produced, with my dear colleague Marc Parent, the album Tunes for Tots for babies and preschoolers. It is an album of English-speaking folk music which serves as an educational tool.
In 2017, I collaborated with illustrator Manuella Côté to publish the book What Would You Do If a Friend at You?. It is a sweet, simple poem about a young child victimized by bullying. Follow his adventure, during which he finds the courage to prove himself stronger than his adversaries! Your young child will simply love this little story!
In 2020, I began composing my first English-language teen musical. The story chronicles the adventures of a young girl, Lisa, named in honour of my late aunt. Following tragic events, Lisa finds herself transported into a magical Canadian winter forest. As she goes through her quest, she meets several uniquely Canadian animals that guide her out of the forest and back home. This coming of age story plays with the concepts of logic and literary absurdity. The solemn and triumphant songs evoke the melodies of our natural Canadian heritage while playing on the tender idea that you are never quite alone when walking in the dark.
In 2020, I debuted my Masters in Composition at Laval University in Quebec as a toolbox to guide me through the process of writing such a large work. I recently graduated with honours this spring of 2022.
In February 2023, I staged my first original musical, WAKE UP - The Musical. It was a huge success!
I live in Quebec, Canada and am the mother of four energetic sons!
Reviews
Live Group Class
$20
weekly or $240 for 12 weeks12 weeks
Completed by 3 learners
No live video meetings
Ages: 14-17