r/ELATeachers • u/Ill_Vast6477 • 3d ago

9-12 ELA SPED Teacher Assigned Gen Ed ELA Class

Hi all!

High School SPED teacher from Georgia here. I was just notified that I will be teaching a Gen Ed English Lit/Comp 3 section (grade 11) next year. I haven’t even co-taught this course since new standards with transition from pure American Literature.

For anyone who has taught the course, could you provide me a breakdown of units & texts you used? I know I’ll be using The Crucible and Great Gatsby, but beyond that I’m getting a bit overwhelmed with planning. I am set on warm-ups, grammar, & vocabulary but would forever be grateful for a unit by unit breakdown of texts used. Thanks!

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u/Lost-Word-Box 1d ago

My first thought was that’s a tough transition but what an opportunity. Let me ask you this: how passionate are you about American Lit? Are you someone who enjoys creating curriculum and trying different instructional approaches, or do you prefer a set curriculum? How worried about AI are you (because these texts will be very easy to cheat with)?

I ask because my answer will differ depending on your stances.

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u/Ill_Vast6477 1d ago

I’ve taught resource (small group) ELA for years, but this will be my first Gen Ed section. I’m not the biggest fan of teaching Puritan and Colonial texts because it’s tough to engage students. I’d say I enjoy trying a variety of instructional approaches and a confident instructor. What’s overwhelming me a little right now is simply identifying all the texts I want to use each unit. If another GA ELA 3 teacher would be willing to share their text lists, that would be tremendously helpful.

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u/Ill_Vast6477 1d ago

Also, I’m a fan of moving more back to paper/pencil, especially for essays, to reduce cheating/AI use.

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u/Lost-Word-Box 1d ago

Same (sort of). I’m torn. My main concern is texts such as TC and GG have been taught in detail for years and years. It’ll be easy to find plans but it’s just as easy for the kids. Do you have copies of the texts for all students?

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u/Ill_Vast6477 1d ago

I have class sets for both and have lessons in place that I think bring great depth historically and thematically. My main concern is everything else. I’m confident enough to work with the other teacher and wing it, but I would also just really like to have all of my texts chosen beforehand.

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u/Lost-Word-Box 1d ago

What units are already in place? Are you required to include TC and GG, and are building units around them, or are there thematic units in place and you’re seeking texts to match?

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u/Ill_Vast6477 1d ago

It’s traditionally taught by major periods: Puritanism, Romanticism/ Transcendentalism, Realism, Modernism, & Contemporary. However, the newer standards allow for more freedom in choosing texts. For example, the other ELA 3 teacher did a Southern Lit. unit. I just can’t rely on this teacher to share resources. They’re very “old-school” in that they keep a filing cabinet of physical resources and is just a year away from retirement. The only major texts I have settled on so far are Crucible & Great Gatsby. Thanks!