Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, Jones will offer sophomore students fresh opportunities presenting a new course in its curriculum. Started through English teacher Ms. Williams and social science teacher Ms. Lee, the class mixes both U.S. History and English II.
“The class is a co-taught double block, History and English class that’s taught together, called American Experience,” said Williams. “The intention is to help students see the connection between American History and Literature.”
American Experience will allow students to gain three different credits all while taking a singular class.
“Students will get an English credit, a history credit, and a service learning credit,” said Williams.
This new addition to the roster of classes offered stemmed from changes to the Jones learning system.
“The school is moving towards a proficiency-based learning model, which was inspired by a couple of different factors,” said Williams. “There was an observation at a local school that has a co-taught American Experience class that seemed really great.”
With the commencement of the new course, challenges are anticipated.
“It’s a new course that’s being taught thematically, and history instruction usually goes chronologically, the past to the present,” said Williams. “The biggest challenge for the class is going to be trying to get students to understand how everything is connected under themes, as opposed to chronologically.”
Although the official curriculum for the class is in the works, the proposed ideas consist of various novels covering different periods in American history.
“Some texts that we have in mind are The Warmth of Other Suns, a book about the great migration, The Best We Could Do, a graphic novel about Vietnamese immigration, and Homegoing, which tells the story of two sisters and their descendants until the present day,” said Williams.
As for the literature aspect, the stories range from fiction to nonfiction novels which allows for the teachers to divulge into a variety of historical periods.
“Let’s say we’re reading a book like The Great Gatsby, we know it’s taking place during the roaring 20s, so as we’re reading the book, we could go really in-depth about that period,” said Lee.
The goal of the class is to allow students to connect different American experiences through literature and understand historic events through a new lens.
“I really hope that kiddos can look at how historical events have influenced and impacted individuals at different points,” said Lee. “How can we really see people in history as people and not just back then.”
While some aspects of the class continue to be in the planning process, the hybrid course brings a new opportunity to the Jones community.
“It’s a really cool class and a new opportunity. If students want to experience what it’s like to do something that’s fresh and new to the school, it’s a great opportunity for that too,” said Williams.
