“Who Are We?” – 9-10 ELA Cohort

Description

Subject: Language Arts

Grades: 9-10 (suggested, but not required)

Course Length: 16 weeks / 1 semester at a time; up to 2 semesters total

Meeting Times:
Fall 2026: Tues/Thurs 12pm-1pm – Sept 1 through Dec 17 (excluding holidays)
Spring 2027: Tues/Thurs 12pm-1pm – Jan 5 through May 20 (excluding holidays)
**Meeting time subject to change if all participants agree on a better time for them**

Description:

What does it mean to be human?

How do people express that?

Can people truly understand each other?

If so, how?

In “Who Are We?”, written to be a 9th-10th grade Language Arts Cohort, students will grapple with these questions and more. They will learn to analyze, develop, and express ideas, primarily through creative nonfiction literature. Understanding topics deeply requires time to explore them in multiple modes; therefore, students will practice writing, creative expression, discussion, and other modalities with self-selected topics. They will also read literature that explores diverse perspectives to expand their worldview.

Key Topics:

• Lifelong Learning Skills
• Media Literacy
• Critical Thinking
• Self-Expression
• Literature Analysis

Longer Texts:

• Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe – Semester 1
• Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (physical copy is optional) – Semester 2

Special Notes: Families are responsible for obtaining copies of the longer texts listed above (library or ebook options are OK).

Additional Info:

• Click here to view the syllabus
• Click here to view the teacher bio for Katie White