Journalism Lesson Plan

Overview:When an English teacher in California decided to “demystify” cursing by studying it in class and allowing middle school students to shout out the swear words and racial ephitets, parents didn’t all agree.

Suggested time allotment: Two approaches are possible with this story idea. One is to explore what the teacher did in Alameda and ask local English teachers if they would use this lesson and why or why not. The other is to dig for teaching methods in your own school that might seem a bit unorthodox. Either way, it’s worth a story.

Objectives

Students will:

1. Research the Alameda story. If possible, contact the teacher.
2. Interview English teachers, any district curricular experts, those at a local teaching college or university, parents, etc. Ask them if this is an appropriate lesson. Would the teachers even consider using it?
3. Interview the principal to see if it COULD be approved for the school. What kind of prior warning do parents get for what is going on in classes? SHOULD they get warning? Why or why not? Also interview someone with the teachers’ union about this.
4. Write a factual article that uses the Alameda story as a news peg and explains local policies and views.

Standards: National Council of Teachers of English and International Reading Association Standards for English Language Arts:

7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
8. Students use a variety of technological and informational resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
12. Students use spoken, written and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion and the exchange of information).

Resources and materials:
Web sites with information:
• Read about the original incident in California at the KGO-TV in the Bay area. The story is titled, “School's 'Swearing' Class Angers Some Parents; School Agrees To Warning Letters,” by Noel Cisneros.
|view website |

• Find the school’s curriculum guide to see if parents should or must be warned about certain classroom activities.