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Engaging Alternatives to Traditional English Credits

Wendy Pliska & Kelly Thompson

McFarland High School Alternative Education

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Inspiration

The required English curriculum in our school is very structured

  • There are no English electives that count for English credit
  • Classes are very college-prep oriented

We recognized a need for English options for students who struggle with our traditional curriculum

We utilize our existing independent study structure

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Reader’s Workshop - Kelly

Target Audience: Students who need a more flexible, primarily self-constructed English course (either for credit recovery or occasionally replacement).

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Topic of study: student-selected (examples: cults, climate change, Greek mythology)

Co-created timeline (with flexibility); built-in conferencing/discussions

Mix of fiction and non-fiction, multimedia as texts

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English for Automotive Careers - Wendy

Target Audience: Students who enjoy and have experience with automotive classes

Modules & Assessments:

  1. Read and analyze Automotive Service Bulletins
  2. Read and reflect on articles from industry magazines
  3. Read and analyze vehicle owners’ manual
  4. Consumer research project

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English for Healthcare Careers

Target Audience: Students who are interested in a career in the healthcare field

Modules & Assessments:

  1. Bias in Healthcare
  2. Book Project
  3. Learning how to find, read and analyze professional journals

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English for Law Enforcement Careers

Target Audience: Students who are interested in a career in or adjacent to law enforcement, including police, corrections, and social work

Modules & Assessments:

  1. Police Reports
  2. Book Report - 2 options dealing with the mental health stressors law enforcement officers face
  3. Police Reform in the Age of BLM

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English for Trades Careers

Target Audience: Students who are interested in a career in the skilled trades

Modules & Assessments:

  1. Read and answer questions about specific skilled trades using the book Exploring Jobs in the Skilled Trades by Stuart Kallen and the websites of Wisconsin technical colleges and trade unions
  2. Interview current workers/trainers in the skilled trades
  3. Complete a unit on business writing Read Chapter 4: “Conversations with your Job Interviewer” from the book Ask a Manager

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Senior English (Mental Health focus)

Target Audience: Students who are struggling with diagnosed mental health issues - this is personalized to each student in collaboration with school counselors

Modules & Assessments:

  1. Student reads and works through a minimum of 2 workbooks from the “An Instant Helpbook for Teens” series
  2. Student meets with teacher and/or counselor to discuss what s/he learned and how s/he will apply it to their life
  3. Student completes a series of short to medium length reflective essays

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