The benefits of coming of age activities for high school ELA are plentiful!
You’ve probably taught a coming of age novel, from Dear Martin to The Hate You Give, to Long Way Down and The Fault In Our Stars, from A Separate Peace to Frankly In Love.
Our students are literally “coming of age,” so it makes sense that teachers will see some of these benefits:
- Explore how literature in high school ELA classrooms plays a vital role in depicting the journey from adolescence to adulthood.
- Identify core themes of growth and self-discovery through coming-of-age stories.
- Combine traditional stories with newer texts—and watch students connect in new ways.
- Meet SEL standards through discussions on identity, growth, and the human experience within the ELA setting.
Both short stories and novels allow for coming of age activities for high school ELA.
What is an overview for coming of age activities for high school ELA?
A goal of coming of age activities for high school ELA should be to take advantage of the content: Through the eyes of the main character, young people think about their identity and the challenges they face outside the classroom. This literature is often high engaging and allows for rich discussions. With a variety of tools, this genre can become meaningful to teenagers.
Provide background for the genre.
Empower students with knowledge of the bildungsroman novel or the coming of age novel. Part of an English language arts class, or a humanities class, is to connect the content to larger movements in the world. For instance, young adult literature is a relatively new genre, largely developed because of the demand. Covering this topic hopefully empowers students to see that their stories are important and worthy of being shared!
I also provide research into the power of storytelling. This information increases buy-in because students can understand how to tell their stories better (writing, advertising) and they can realize how others tell stories to manipulate them. One of my essential questions always deals with the power of storytelling: Why do humans tell stories, specifically, this story that we are reading?
Connect SEL and brain-based learning.
High school literature reflects important steps of growth. The themes in these books show self-discovery, strength, and change, which are common in teenage life. The main characters face challenges that represent the struggles young people face as they move into the adult world. All of these concepts are perfect for integrating SEL and brain-based learning.
I teach students that their brains are still developing and that reading is still important to their development. Students who lean more toward science find this information intriguing and since our class discussions revolve around character growth, the growth of my students’ brains is closely connected.
Show literature reflecting the teenage journey to adulthood.
In literature, the journey to adulthood is shown through young characters dealing with the ups and downs of being a teenager. If you have extra time or need a writing assignment, journal about the struggles and successes that young people face as they step into the adult world.
When students read coming-of-age stories in the ELA classroom, they can learn more about their own growth as they relate to the narrator. They explore important questions about who they are and where they fit in society. Literature serves as a mirror, (and sliding doors and windows!) showing the different experiences and feelings that come with this important time in life.
Curriculum Design for Coming-of-Age Units
Selecting literature for coming-of-age units is very important as students will relate to these books and thus, remember them. H. Richard Milner IV in “Opportunity-Centered Teaching” tells teachers:
Black students and non-Black students are attempting to understand what is happening in the world around them. When we build literacy curriculum practices for racial justice we should view society itself as a complex, multilayered text. When students can see and build connections to historical and current societal interactions, experiences, and realities, they’re far more interested in and more likely to engage with traditional printed texts or even multimodal texts.
So! Let’s apply the research concerning diverse texts, and plan accordingly.
Selecting diverse texts that speak to students.
In creating fun lesson plans for high school ELA, choosing different texts is important. Using a mix of old and new coming-of-age stories helps connect with the various experiences of young people. One option is to pull excerpts from a variety of coming of age stories and read them as you pair them with the whole class text.
A variety gives students rich topics for class discussions. Adding stories with different tellers, settings, and themes not only builds vocabulary but also helps with critical thinking.
Scaffolding activities.
I start with the understanding of the genre. Our lessons front-load information so that students understand what to expect from their reading. We cover the benefits of reading fiction, previously read coming of age stories (even from elementary school), and the relative newness of teenage-hood.
We also watch this video from PBS Voices. (Questions and answers are included in my download.)
Scaffolding is good teaching, and coming of age activities for high school ELA provide plenty of opportunities.
Engaging Teaching Strategies for ELA
Facilitating conversations about growth and identity can create strong engagement in the ELA classroom. Literary analysis tasks like studying how the protagonist grows or how the theme develops over time help students think critically. Additionally, domain-specific vocabulary (remember the pre-reading activities about genre?) can benefit students’ understanding of their stories.
By using important questions about adolescence and moving to the adult world, students can connect literature to their own lives. These methods not only improve understanding but also build empathy and self-reflection among young people. This makes the ELA curriculum more meaningful and impactful.
Journal and write.
To create meaningful talks about growth and identity in the ELA classroom, use literature’s power with little prep for you—journal! Use an old-fashioned pencil and notebook, and ask your classes to free-write.
What topics are students interested in? With what connections from your introductory work concerning genres are students now seeing in their reading? How are characters changing, themes developing, conflicts resolving?
As everyone writes, take note. This work can easily be prewriting for longer literary analysis papers.
Coordinate discussions.
Brains work best when they are together, but don’t just turn students loose, thinking that they will chat and relate to literature. Model the process and provide expectations.
Then, distribute cards that will move students toward literary analysis.
Conclusion
Teaching coming-of-age themes in high school ELA can improve critical thinking and build empathy in students. When teachers pick different texts that relate to young people and mix modern stories with classic ones, they can make lesson plans that connect adolescence to the adult world. By using fun teaching methods like class discussions and journaling, ELA classrooms can encourage students to think about their own growth and identity.
These coming of age activities for high school ELA will help them form a stronger link to the stories they study.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you choose coming-of-age stories for diverse classrooms?
Choose coming of age literature that connects with all students by thinking about their different backgrounds, cultures, and modern views. Research and SEL practices tell educators that a variety of authors and perspectives in reading is best practice.
What are effective discussion questions for coming-of-age themes?
Overall, effective discussions lead to meeting literature standards!
- How do the characters’ experiences reflect real-life struggles that teenagers face?
- What social rules do they challenge or go along with?
- How does finding themselves help them grow?
Once students begin talking and journaling, you can form a literary analysis prompt for them.
Can you recommend any projects that complement coming-of-age units?
Exploring projects like making character journals, updating classic scenes, or organizing book clubs can improve high school ELA coming-of-age lessons. These activities help students get more involved. They also boost their critical thinking skills when looking at growth themes in literature.
