English · English 12

SEL activities for Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC)

34 RoseThread Connect activities matched to the chapters of Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC) (California State University). Each one teaches the chapter's content and builds one Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skill in about 20 minutes.

We look only at each book's table of contents (chapter titles and topics) to suggest activities that fit the flow of your course. We don't use or reproduce any textbook content, and your edition's chapter order may differ slightly. RoseThread Connect is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by these publishers.

Module 1: Introducing ERWC 12: Portfolios and Metacognition

• Portfolio and Growth Self-awareness · English 12Reflecting on four years of reading and writing.
• Semester Reflection Self-awareness · English 12Reflective letter on growth and goals.
• Senior Year Intentions Self-awareness · English 12Narrative reflection on intentions for the final year.

Module 2: Final Reflection on Learning: The ERWC 12 Portfolio

• Portfolio and Growth Self-awareness · English 12Reflecting on four years of reading and writing.
• Semester Reflection Self-awareness · English 12Reflective letter on growth and goals.
• Letters Across Time Self-awareness · English 12Letters to their younger and future selves.
• Thank You and Farewell Relationship skills · English 12Farewell letters thanking people who shaped them.

Module 3: Big Brother and the Authoritarian Surveillance State (1984)

• Dystopia and Freedom Responsible decision-making · English 121984 or Brave New World and the cost of comfort.
• Surveillance and Privacy Responsible decision-making · English 12Privacy in the digital age across multiple sources.
• Ethics of Technology Responsible decision-making · English 12Arguing a position on an AI or technology ethics question.
• Seminar on Power Relationship skills · English 12Socratic seminar on power and responsibility.

Module 4: Brave New World

• Dystopia and Freedom Responsible decision-making · English 121984 or Brave New World and the cost of comfort.
• Ethics of Technology Responsible decision-making · English 12Arguing a position on an AI or technology ethics question.
• Surveillance and Privacy Responsible decision-making · English 12Privacy in the digital age across multiple sources.

Module 5: Cambodia Remembers

• Postcolonial Voices Social awareness · English 12Things Fall Apart and stories told from the other side of empire.
• Poetry and Grief Social awareness · English 12Elegies and supporting others in grief.
• Identity and Belonging Self-awareness · English 12Characters caught between cultures.

Module 6: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

• Literary Criticism Lenses Social awareness · English 12Reading one text through multiple critical lenses.
• Identity and Belonging Self-awareness · English 12Characters caught between cultures.

Module 7: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

• Ethics of Technology Responsible decision-making · English 12Arguing a position on an AI or technology ethics question.
• Research Methods for College Self-management · English 12Sustained research with a manageable plan.
• Annotated Bibliography Responsible decision-making · English 12Evaluating and citing sources with integrity.

Module 8: Into the Wild

• The Modern Hero Self-awareness · English 12Antiheroes and complicated heroes in modern literature.
• Epic Heroes and Everyday Courage Self-awareness · English 12Epic heroes and the courage of ordinary life.
• Identity and Belonging Self-awareness · English 12Characters caught between cultures.

Module 9: Working Class Hero: Hawkeye

• The Modern Hero Self-awareness · English 12Antiheroes and complicated heroes in modern literature.
• Epic Heroes and Everyday Courage Self-awareness · English 12Epic heroes and the courage of ordinary life.
• Literary Criticism Lenses Social awareness · English 12Reading one text through multiple critical lenses.

Module 10: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

• Guilt and Conscience Self-awareness · English 12How guilt shapes characters and how we handle our own mistakes.
• Shakespeare and Ambition Responsible decision-making · English 12Ambition and its costs in Macbeth or another tragedy.
• Literary Criticism Lenses Social awareness · English 12Reading one text through multiple critical lenses.
• Writing a Literary Analysis Responsible decision-making · English 12College level literary analysis with a complex claim.

Module 11: The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice

• Shakespeare and Ambition Responsible decision-making · English 12Ambition and its costs in Macbeth or another tragedy.
• Guilt and Conscience Self-awareness · English 12How guilt shapes characters and how we handle our own mistakes.
• Commencement Speeches Self-awareness · English 12Analyzing famous commencement speeches.
• Literary Criticism Lenses Social awareness · English 12Reading one text through multiple critical lenses.
• Writing a Literary Analysis Responsible decision-making · English 12College level literary analysis with a complex claim.

Module 12: The Daily Me

• Surveillance and Privacy Responsible decision-making · English 12Privacy in the digital age across multiple sources.
• Ethics of Technology Responsible decision-making · English 12Arguing a position on an AI or technology ethics question.
• Research Methods for College Self-management · English 12Sustained research with a manageable plan.

Module 13: Community Activism

• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.
• Senior Project: Plan Self-management · English 12Planning a senior project that serves others.
• Senior Project: Present Relationship skills · English 12Presenting projects to the community.
• Senior Project: Collaborate Relationship skills · English 12Team roles and resolving conflict on long projects.
• Commencement Speeches Self-awareness · English 12Analyzing famous commencement speeches.

Module 14: Fake News and Bias in Reporting

• Surveillance and Privacy Responsible decision-making · English 12Privacy in the digital age across multiple sources.
• Research Methods for College Self-management · English 12Sustained research with a manageable plan.
• Annotated Bibliography Responsible decision-making · English 12Evaluating and citing sources with integrity.
• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.

Module 15: Is Boredom Good for You?

• Ethics of Technology Responsible decision-making · English 12Arguing a position on an AI or technology ethics question.
• Surveillance and Privacy Responsible decision-making · English 12Privacy in the digital age across multiple sources.

Module 16: Island Civilization

• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.
• Senior Project: Plan Self-management · English 12Planning a senior project that serves others.
• Research Methods for College Self-management · English 12Sustained research with a manageable plan.

Module 17: Juvenile Justice

• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.
• Seminar on Power Relationship skills · English 12Socratic seminar on power and responsibility.
• Research Methods for College Self-management · English 12Sustained research with a manageable plan.

Module 18: Language, Gender, and Culture

• Spoken Word Self-awareness · English 12Writing and performing spoken word about identity.
• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.
• Satire and Social Change Responsible decision-making · English 12A Modest Proposal and satire as protest.

Module 19: Narrative Medicine

• The Interview Relationship skills · English 12Mock job and college interviews.
• Poetry and Grief Social awareness · English 12Elegies and supporting others in grief.
• Letters Across Time Self-awareness · English 12Letters to their younger and future selves.

Module 20: New Space Race

• Ethics of Technology Responsible decision-making · English 12Arguing a position on an AI or technology ethics question.
• Research Methods for College Self-management · English 12Sustained research with a manageable plan.
• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.

Module 21: On Leaving | On Staying Behind

• Identity and Belonging Self-awareness · English 12Characters caught between cultures.
• Postcolonial Voices Social awareness · English 12Things Fall Apart and stories told from the other side of empire.
• Spoken Word Self-awareness · English 12Writing and performing spoken word about identity.
• Letters Across Time Self-awareness · English 12Letters to their younger and future selves.

Module 22: Politics of Food

• Research Methods for College Self-management · English 12Sustained research with a manageable plan.
• Annotated Bibliography Responsible decision-making · English 12Evaluating and citing sources with integrity.
• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.
• Peer Review Like a Professional Relationship skills · English 12Professional feedback norms.

Module 23: Ready to Launch

• Commencement Speeches Self-awareness · English 12Analyzing famous commencement speeches.
• My Commencement Speech Self-awareness · English 12Writing their own two minute commencement speech.
• Presenting Research Findings Self-management · English 12Presenting research to an authentic audience.
• Senior Project: Present Relationship skills · English 12Presenting projects to the community.

Module 24: Value of Life

• Poetry and Grief Social awareness · English 12Elegies and supporting others in grief.
• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.

Module 25: Waste More, Want More

• Civic Voice Social awareness · English 12Writing to influence a local or state decision.
• Research Methods for College Self-management · English 12Sustained research with a manageable plan.
• Senior Project: Plan Self-management · English 12Planning a senior project that serves others.
• Ethics of Technology Responsible decision-making · English 12Arguing a position on an AI or technology ethics question.

Module 26: What's Next? Thinking About Life After High School

• Workplace Communication Relationship skills · English 12Professional emails, cover letters, and tone.
• The Interview Relationship skills · English 12Mock job and college interviews.
• Resumes That Tell a Story Self-awareness · English 12Turning experiences into a resume that reflects strengths.
• Financial Literacy Texts Responsible decision-making · English 12Reading contracts, leases, and loan terms carefully.
• Portfolio and Growth Self-awareness · English 12Reflecting on four years of reading and writing.

RoseThread Connect activities are drafted with the help of AI and shaped by educators. Students never have to share anything personal. Our five SEL skills are informed by CASEL's SEL Framework; RoseThread Learning is not affiliated with or endorsed by CASEL.