Creative
Texts in Early American Literature: An English Language Arts Program
Introduction
Creative Texts in Early American Literature (CTEA) is
the first program in a projected “Creative Texts” series of English Language
Arts programs for online learning in the US public school systems.
Other programs in the series include: Creative Texts
in Contemporary American Literature; Creative Texts in Hispanic Literature from
the 1900’s to the Present; and Creative Texts in European Literature I &
II.
The Creative Text programs are targeted towards High
School students, in public & private academic institutions, at Grade Levels
10-11.
Overview
of the Program
Students enrolled in CTEA will be required to read a
wide range of Early American non-print texts.
The texts include fictional prose (short stories, excerpts from novels),
non-fictional prose (essays, articles, excerpts from longer works) and poetry.
The goals for students are:
(1) To
build an understanding of the texts themselves in the context of the culture in
which they
were written.
(2) To
understand the dimensions & nuances of the Early American experience at the
periods
represented by the creative writers.
(3) To
develop a sensitivity to the English Language itself; it’s evolving structure,
style, conventions
& possibilities as a tool for communication of ideas
& images.
(4) To use
their own developing language skills as they respond to & interact with the
texts
under consideration.
FAQ
for Parents
Q1: How does my student access the CTEA program?
A: Students log into the Creative Texts website
(http:/www.creativetexts.com). The
log-in ID & Password will be provided by the school. Once the student is on the site, she will
access the Modules. There are four
Modules, one for each CT program. CTEA
is Module 1. The student selects Module
1 and then follows the instructions for reading & responding to the
texts.
Classroom teachers will provide full instructions
& hands-on instruction on how to use the CT program & modules in class.
NOTE: There are links to the CT website on the High
School website & on the Michigan Board of Education website if the student
or parent wishes to access CT from these locations.
If the student is unable to access the CT website, or
experiences any problems or difficulties with the software, please contact the
High School Computer Lab Help Desk during regular school hours. The number is
1-517-888-7878.
Q2: Do students need to have home PCs, laptops or
notebooks with Internet access?
A: No. The CT
activities will be done during the normal classroom times. Students will work in the High School
Computer Labs. However, students have
the option of bringing their own devices to the labs if they prefer. This does not include smart phones and/or
cell phones.
Q3: What texts will students be studying?
A: The period of Early American Literature comprises
1630 to the 1890’s. The specific
creative writers will be determined by a five-person panel, the members of
which are literature instructors and other academics in related fields.
Examples of standard writers for this period include:
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau,
Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville and Walt Whitman.
Q4: My student
is an ESL student and her competency in English is still in the developmental
stage. Will this be a problem?
A: No. The CT
program runs in conjunction with other software programs that are especially
designed to aid ESL students & students with learning disabilities such as
ADHD. The Natural Reader resource
(www.naturalreader.com), for example, is one of these options. The Lingo Talking Translator (via Amazon),
which can be used with a smart phone, is another option.
The combination of the CT software & hand-held
translation applications will ensure that ESL students are able to learn
independently & efficiently.
Q5: Are there any costs or out-of-pocket expenses for
parents or students?
A: No. The CT
programs & activities are part of the regular High School curriculum.
Q6: Much classroom work at the 10th & 11th grade
levels seems to be focused on preparation for the SAT and/or ACT standardized
tests. Will the CT programs help my
student become more prepared for taking these tests?
A: There is no direct link between the CTEA program
and higher scores on the SAT or ACT tests.
However, CT students will generally improve their reading & writing
skills and their increasing sensitivity to the written word will contribute at
least indirectly to better performance on these tests.
